Wearing the longevity lock

When the baby is one month old, the longevity lock is a necessity among the numerous gifts from relatives. Folklores have it that only boys can wear longevity lock, which is to be made by his maternal grandmother. The lock will be wrapped a piece of cloth on every birthday of the boy until he reaches 12 years old.

In the north of Shanxi Province , the longevity lock, made by the mother or grandmother, is first knitted with blue, red and yellow silk threads rather than with the inauspicious white or black silk threads. When the silk threads are knitted for a certain length, a knot in the shape of a pig's head will be tied and some coins hung under it. The longevity lock is then finished. Every year followed，a new rope will be knitted for the child until he is 12 years old. Then the parents will make a belt with the twelve locks, which the child will use until his marriage.

The time when children are to wear longevity lock differs from place to place. In some area, children begin to wear it when they are only one year old while in other places children do it when they are just one month old. The longevity lock itself is also varies a lot in different places. Some are made of silk thread while others are made of metal. No matter when the longevity lock is worn or what kind of materials it is used, the longevity lock represents parents' love and care.

The little lock, which is meant to ensure the children's health, safety, and long life, is similar in function with the amulet of western countries.

 Opening the longevity lock
　
Opening the lock is a widespread custom in North China's Shanxi Province, especially the rural areas, where it is regarded as an illuminative activity for 12-year old boys. In the old society, this activity was only for the eldest son who was 12 years old, but as time goes on, the scope is greatly enlarged.
　
Opening the longevity lock is likened to opening the door of the child's wisdom, to lead them out of the obscurity of the infancy period and into the boyish period. It also expresses the parents' wishes that the children can become clever and mature increasingly, stand on their own feet and get rid of their dependent mentality.

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