Birthday traditions are another aspect of the Chinese culture that is of significant interest to me. It was recently both of my Grandparent's birthdays and when thinking about what to write for this blog, it really made me wonder if the Chinese had any special birthday traditions for the elderly. While looking this up on the internet, I came across numerous articles about how Chinese people really only celebrate birthdays for newborns and the elderly. I learned that not until the age of 60, do most Chinese people really go all out and celebrate their birthday. To the Chinese, the 6oth birthday is seen as an important milestone in life and is an age that one should be very proud to reach. Some of the traditional Chinese foods eaten on this day include noodles, eggs, and peaches, all of which symbolize longevity. According to Chinese tradition, the noddles must remain long and never be cut, since short noodles symbolize bad luck. I also learned that each birthday after the age of 60, is an even more elaborate birthday celebration.

Source:
http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_chinaway/2004-09/14/content_60246_4.htm