One-Year-Old Catch

抓周

One-Year-Old Catch is a tradition with a long history in China. It was recorded even when it was in Song Dynasty.

小孩儿满周岁行“抓周”礼的风俗，在民间流传已久，在宋朝时就有所记载。

One-Year-Old Catch is usually held before eating the long-life noodles when it is on the day when a baby is one year old. The family will lay out sutras, brush pens, ink sticks, paper, ink slabs, abacus, copper coins, account books, jewelries, flowers, rouge, foods, toys, etc. For girls, scoops, scissors, rulers, thread, scissor-cut will be added. Then the parents put the baby in front of these articles and make it sit up. Nobody will give any instruction or cue to the baby so that it is left free to choose. Watching the baby catch the articles it likes, the family can then make predictions about its potential interests, future career and development.

“抓周儿”的仪式一般都在吃中午那顿“长寿面”之前进行。讲究一些的富户都要在床（炕）前陈设大案，上摆：印章、儒、释、道三教的经书，笔、墨、纸、砚、算盘、钱币、帐册、首饰、花朵、胭脂、吃食、玩具，如是女孩“抓周儿”还要加摆：铲子、勺子（炊具）、剪子、尺子（缝纫用具）、绣线、花样子（刺绣用具）等等。一般人家，限于经济条件，多予简化，仅用一铜茶盘，内放私塾启蒙课本：《三字经》或《千字文》一本，毛笔一枝、算盘一个、烧饼油果一套。女孩加摆：铲子、剪子、尺子各一把。由大人将小孩抱来，令其端坐，不予任何诱导，任其挑选，视其先抓何物，后抓何物。以此来测卜其志趣、前途和将要从事的职业。