Saturday, December 18, 2010

Why are Cigars handed out after a child is born

Did you know that the tradition of giving away cigars to celebrate the birth of a child has its roots in the latter part of the 17th Century? In those days, cigars were quite rare thus to be treasured and guarded as one would with money. Handing out cigars, therefore, was an expression of deep appreciation.

So, the next time someone hands out some Dutch Master cigars, you know why. Incidentally, a colleague did that just last week after the birth of his firstborn, a boy.

8 comments:

  1. My hubby always prefer Cohiba. He doesn't hand them out when my son was born though. But he will do so if he gets a big fat bonus. LOL

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  2. For non-smoker what are we supposed to do with the expensive cigar? Sell to the roadside stall or burn it? No sign of cigar means its a girl by default? hehe tQ

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  3. Lina, big fat bonus calls for cigars! Most definitely!

    Bananaz, get a whiff of the lovely smell of unsmoked virgin cigar! Daily. LOL!
    The source I read said it's for both genders. No discrimination! tsk tsk.. But over here, cigars are only given out on the occasion of boy births. I wonder which genius (read sexist person) started that. hmmm...

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  4. hmmm, i really did not know this.. i only know we give away red eggs after a month of the child's birth~~ haha!! :p

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  5. Great idea of whiffing the unsmoked virgin cigar. Yeah I do whiff fag once in while though I gave up on them long time ago. Love to smell the aroma of the pipe smoke too. Really cigars are given out for both genders? Have this perception that cigar has a direct relationship to the anatomy of baby boy? hehe hmmmmm?

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  6. yeah! I have seen (in the movie) people handling out cigars to newborn parents...but little did I know it holds such significance. :D

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  7. Did not know of such tradition before :o). Perhaps not originally a Chinese tradition?

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  8. A new thing to hear infact didn't knew that this can also happen...

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