My next door neighbour celebrated his 57th birthday today and I was invited for the celebration. His wife prepared steam boat as the main course. She also served fried mee and red eggs (see the red egg that I brought back).

The desert was a glutinous rice cake with kaya. According to the hostess, the birthday "boy" and the guests must have something sweet for auspice sake. When all the ingredients had been put in and everyone had eaten their fair share, I noticed that mee or noodles were put into the steam boat and then served as noodle soup. Notice that a lot of noodles are used for this occasion as the Chinese believe that they represent long life.

Where the Chinese are concered food is rich with symbolism and the yellow noodles enjoy a very auspicious position. Why is this so? It is because Chinese noodles are long (especially the hand-made type called la mein.) The length symbolises a long, unbroken life. The life might not necessarily relate to that of a person, it can also refer to a career, relationship, or even an imperial dynasty.

When preparing noodles for a birthday celebration, make sure that you try not to break or cut the noodles. As any breakages might not be so auspicious. If possible, try to slurp the noodles instead of biting them. That would be more auspicious.