China officials dump salt on food at village banquet to mark baby’s first haircut in bid to clamp down on excessive spending in rural areas
- Ceremony was traditionally meant to wish a baby good luck for its future
- Has morphed into displays of wealth, profiteering by local businesses
A deputy town chief in southwestern China disrupted a recent “hair-shaving celebration” for a village baby by pouring salt all over the feast, igniting a heated discussion about tradition versus ostentatious displays of wealth.
A “hair-shaving celebration” is a tradition in which a family celebrates their baby’s first haircut and wishes the child good fortune.
Traditionally, the hair is used to make a brush as a keepsake, representing aspirations for the child’s future academic success.
However, in recent years, the celebration has evolved into a culture of extravagant feasting, and it has become an excuse for social competition and indirect profiteering in the local community.
The incident, on January 30, took place in Guizhou province when the deputy town chief of Xiaohai town, surnamed Zhao, and several other village officials attempted to halt a celebration.
Video filming caught the officials initially attempting to dissuade the villagers from proceeding with the celebration, but after that failed, they each grabbed a bag of salt and aggressively poured it over the freshly cooked dishes, laughing as they did so.