Whack a red egg on the forehead on birthday

Eggs have long held as much significance to cultures as the Easter eggs of Christians. And Malaysians also have an interesting custom about eggs. It is to whack a red egg on the forehead on a birthday. According to Malaysian beliefs, if it’s your birthday you need to be knocked on your head with a hard-boiled red color egg. It's hard enough to actually break it. Then it’s up to you whether you want to eat it or not. The Egg signifies reproduction and growth, so Malaysian kids gotta do this even when they’re young which usually results in a lot of crying kids. However, as you get older, it gets less painful – and this signifies your ability to deal better with pain as you mature.

In Malaysian culture, it is common to hold a red egg and ginger party at the baby's first-year birthday. On this occasion, the baby's name is often revealed to friends and family. Guests may discover a dish of cooked chicken eggs in a variety of vibrant colors on the buffet or service tables, or the hosts may distribute the red-dyed eggs as a sign of happiness and reborn life. On occasion, the red eggs are also presented as birthday presents to family members and adult friends.