Hello everybody! We celebrated Baby D's 100th birthday this past weekend and I wanted to share with you some photos and details about this special event in Korean culture. 100 days of a baby, also calledBaekylis an ancient Korean tradition that most Korean-American families still celebrate to this day because of its special meaning in a child's life.
Why do Koreans celebrate 100 days?
100days is a special milestone in Korean culture because many babies used to not survive this day. Because Koreans believed that the first 100 days was a time for full recovery for the mother and building immunity for the baby, babies were kept indoors, away from public view, until their 100th day. Therefore, the 100th day symbolizes the end of the tender newborn phase, when it is finally old enough to "welcome" its guests. The guests, in turn, bring gifts of money and gold and bless the child with good wishes for health, happiness, wisdom, prosperity and long life.
While Korean babies aren't being kept indoors as long anymore (but not without limitations. You can readmail after birthfor more details), 100 days remain to be a wonderful family event that brings generations together to celebrate a new life.
Festive food is served on this day, including sweet white rice cake, which is distributed and enjoyed by all to "spread" health, love, and prosperity to the child. In Korean hundred (baek) also means white, which is why the white rice cake is symbolic of this event. Traditionally, this sweet rice cake (orbaeksulgi) will be distributed to 100 people. We distributed it to everyone present including grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins.
Festive food is served on this day, including sweet white rice cake, which is distributed and enjoyed by all to "spread" health, love, and prosperity to the child. In Korean hundred (baek) also means white, which is why the white rice cake is symbolic of this event. Traditionally, this sweet rice cake (orbaeksulgi) will be distributed to 100 people.
1. Name tags offCalligraphy with red letters
I kept the 100 day table pretty simple this time because I didn't have much time for DIY projects. Instead of trying too much, knowing it would drive me insane, I decided to keep the decor minimalist and only put the bare essentials in it. I also chose white roses, which suits the purity and "whiteness" of the event. (Remember that hundred in Korean also means white?)
I kept the 100 day chart simple because I didn't have much time for DIY projects. Instead of trying too much, knowing it would drive me insane, I decided to keep the decor minimalist and only put the bare essentials in it.
The only detail I spent a lot of money on is the gold nameplate I boughtRed Letter Day. Die Besitzerin Jane hat wunderbare Arbeit geleistet, als sie dieses Namensschild erstellt hat, das ich auch für die einjährige Feier von Baby D verwenden möchte (eine weitere wichtige Tradition in der koreanischen Kultur). Wenn es nicht für die Veranstaltungen verwendet wird, plane ich, es in seinem Kinderzimmer aufzuhängen. Drei Verwendungen in einem Namensschild ... nicht schlecht, oder? 😉
She gave me three calligraphy options and I chose number 2. What do you think? Personally, I think number 2 fits its name great. You can purchase your own custom signage and lettering productsHere.Be sure to tell her you found her through my blog!
2. 100 banners and felt crown outLittle Love Alley
I also bought the 1-0-0 banner fromLittle Love Lane auf Etsy. I have requested a black felt crown with matching banner with the numbers 1 0 0 for the 100th day. The owner was so sweet and she even rushed to my place because I needed her before the weekend. Planning ahead is so hard when you have three kids! I would highly recommend their shop for birthday crowns and banners for babies and children. There are so many cute choices and colors that you should definitely check them out for your next event or photo shoot.
3. The rest: balloons, flowers, frames, sweet rice cake
If you are familiar with Korean tradition, you know that the main table is a very important part of the celebration. Traditionally, what you put on the table is symbolic, like photos, brightly colored fruit, different colored dishes, favorite toys, even items like yarn for longevity. This time I skipped everything else and focused on the essentials: balloons, flowers, two photos, a banner, and a sweet rice cake.
The balloons are fromparty town, flowers are sourced from the local market (Costco for roses, Albertsons for green filler) and two matching frames are sourced fromhousewares, a red-tagged item for $5 each. The sweet rice cake costs $40 and can be bought at any local Korean bakery. You can add any font with cocoa powder on top.
Essentially, the 100 day celebration means "we survived". We survived the pregnancy, the labor, the postpartum recovery, the 24/7 feeding, many sleepless nights (well, that's not over yet), the demands of caring for a newborn, and the reality, a add another child into the mix.
Essentially, the 100 day celebration means "we survived". We survived the pregnancy, the labor, the postpartum recovery, the 24/7 feeding, many sleepless nights (well, that's not over yet), the demands of caring for a newborn, and the reality, a add another child into the mix.
Similarly, Baby D survived by making his way to burrow into my egg (a miracle!), growing inside my womb for 10 months (another miracle!), coming into this world and growing into a great, grew up into a healthy boy who he is today. What a blessed milestone for both of us!
If you've followed my maternity journey on my blog, you know that I never planned on having a third child. You can read more about this time of reflectionhere. I was never one of those mothers who felt capable of handling more than two children. To be honest I barely survived motherhood of two and struggled with postpartum depression which you can read more abouthere.
When I first discovered I was pregnant, one of my biggest fears was that I would have postpartum depression again because the experience was really heartbreaking and traumatic for me. I had to be careful and really take care of my body and mind because I knew that with three kids it couldn't happen to me again. So this 100 day celebration was especially meaningful to me because I can now say with certainty that I am PPD free this time.
I am so grateful that we got through the most intense and delicate time and that we are happier and healthier than ever together. There are so many things that can go wrong during a pregnancy, childbirth, childbirth and postpartum and we got through it without any major problems. We did it - and I can't wait to see what's in store for us as a family of five.
And this is just one of many things Koreans celebrate on the 100th day of a baby. The older I get, the more I appreciate the wisdom and wit of Korean ancestors.
Retroactively
Looking at my son, who came into my life by surprise, I now understand why they say that unexpected gifts are the best gifts. There are so many things he has done for me in just 100 days since he entered this world, but the most important is this:he made my heart grow I never thought I could love so much. And this is not only love reserved for him, it is love for others, for all of humanity.
Today he spends most of his time sleeping, eating, smiling, occasionally crying and sucking both of his fingers. He discovered his two fingers last week and it's the cutest thing. He's my easiest baby of the three and SUCH A JOYto be around. He is perfect in every way and I am so blessed to be his mother.
I once thought having more children meant losing my femininity. You know, the extra weight, sagging skin, falling hair, changing breasts and hips and other things that you can never get back. Now I see that having more children means you are a woman with the ability to love harder than anyone around you. You can choose to feel less of a woman because of all the imperfect qualities that come with having more children, or you can choose to seek real beauty in motherhood like I did.
If you're undecided about having another child, ask yourself the following:Are you ready to let your heart grow?Answer that first, then answer the rest. It is perhaps the most important question to ask before deciding to have another child.
I wish I had known this years ago, but I'm sure everything is happening at the right time. As an ancient Eastern wisdom tells us, when the student is ready to learn, the teacher intervenes.
So what do you think of the 100 day celebration? Would you also find such a tradition meaningful?
Thanks for reading and if you found this post helpful, please share or pin the image below!
Comment
FAQs
Why do Koreans celebrate a baby's 100 days? ›
Traditionally the number 100 has a deep meaning of maturity in Korea; making it past the first 100 days was a sign that you would live to see your first birthday, and making it past your first birthday was a sign that you would make it out of infancy.
What culture celebrates a baby's 100th day? ›In Asian culture, the 100-day celebration is a banquet that marks a baby reaching the 100-day milestone. The Chinese belief is that hosting it on the 100th day will bless the baby with a fulfilling and prosperous life.
What is the Korean baby tradition? ›Dol or doljanchi is a Korean tradition that celebrates the first birthday of a baby. This ceremony blesses the child with a prosperous future and has taken on great significance in Korea.
What should I bring to a Korean 100-Day celebration? ›Parents also put up a pretty banner behind the table that says 100-day (백일). Most Koreans place fruits, rice cakes, a cake, cash, white yarn (wishing for longevity) and more. Optional: You can host this event at a banquet hall, although most Koreans do it at home.
What do you do at a Korean 100 Day celebration? ›Another birthday celebration is Baegil (100th-day celebration). During this celebration, the family worships Samshin. They make her offerings of rice and soup for having cared for the infant and the mother, and for having helped them live through a difficult period.
Do Koreans celebrate every 100 days? ›Love milestones are a big deal for Korean couples. It is customary for couples to count down to the 100th day since they got together and celebrate their anniversaries every 100 days of their relationship. On the day, they exchange flowers and gifts, eat at a nice restaurant, or go on a short trip together.
What is 100 days in Korea? ›This is the reason why Baek-il is being celebrated on the 100th day after a baby's birth. As a Korean belief, parents refrain from taking the infant outside to protect their child, until such time he reaches the 100th day after his birth to the world.
Why do Koreans wait to name their babies? ›In Korean philosophy, we think after 100 days and 1 year after giving a birth are very important moment. About 100 days, in old times, death rate of babies was high. So, we thought baby after 100 days after giving a birth are firm and safe about hardships.
What do Korean call their baby? ›Aegiya (애기야) – “Baby”
The word 애기 (aegi) is a cute way of saying 아기 (agi), which means “baby. This Korean term is used as a sweet way of saying “baby”.
Dad: 아빠 (appa) Father: 아버지 (abeoji) Mom: 엄마 (eomma) Mother: 어머니 (eomeoni)
What are traditional baby gifts in South Korea? ›
Traditional gifts for the baby are gold rings and other jewelry, though not to be worn. These were seen as currency and used to pay for the child's needs and education. Common gifts today are cash, clothing, and toys.
What do you wear to a 100 day celebration? ›Traditionally, the baby will wear a Longevity Lock on the neck and wear something red for this special occasion. Some also wear special hats, bracelets, and anklets. However, in modern days, many parents choose not to go with traditional looks.
What do Koreans like to receive as gifts? ›Everything from health supplements, teas, and vitamins to red ginseng are great gifts in Korea. Ginseng works well for gifts to Korean in-laws. On that same note, you can also send high-end food products like Hanwoo beef, expensive mushrooms, and wild ginseng too.
What is the unique tradition in Korea? ›Doljabi. In this Korean ritual, when a child turns one year old, he or she is placed in front of a table of objects and encouraged to choose one. It is believed that the object selected will foretell the child's future.
Do you bring a gift to a 100-day celebration? ›100 Days Gifts And Presents
As in most cultures, it's customary to bring a gift for the new baby at a 100-day celebration.
Just like the full month celebration marks baby's first full month, the 100-day celebration marks a newborn's first full 100 days. This practice is common in other Asian countries like Korea and Japan, and it dates back to ancient times when life was harder, so it was a good omen if an infant survived past 100 days.
Why do Koreans have two birthdays? ›Once born, a baby is considered to be one year old, accounting for the time spent in the womb. The baby will turn two not a year after it is born, but on New Year's. This means that Korean babies born on December 31st turn two on January 1st , even though they would be one day old in the rest of the world.
What is the significance of red Egg and Ginger party? ›Red Egg and Ginger Parties can range from full banquet meals at restaurants to small family events at home. Guests receive red eggs, which symbolize luck and unity, and pickled ginger, which brings the body back into balance after childbirth.
What do you give a Chinese baby for 100 days? ›Chinese grandparents often give gold jewellery to their new grandson or granddaughter for the baby's full month or 100-day celebration.
Do Chinese celebrate baby 100 days? ›People in Hong Kong, China, Korea, Japan, and Singapore hold a baby's 100th day as an especially important occasion, and some even consider the 100-day mark as the baby's first birthday.
Do Koreans celebrate their actual birthday? ›
People in Korea still celebrate their birthdays on the day they were born and count their actual age. However, it doesn't affect their Korean age as it changes on January 1st. For example, if you were born on April 1st, you would still celebrate your birthday on April 1st.
What are the two most popular traditional holidays in Korea? ›Seollal (Lunar New Year's Day) and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day) are the most important traditional holidays for Koreans, so millions of people visit their hometown to celebrate with their families.
What does the Korean ring finger mean? ›Wearing a ring on different fingers has different meanings in South Korea. A couple ring is traditionally worn on the ring finger. Whether it's on the right or left hand doesn't matter. A ring on the ring finger is a sign of love and commitment. A ring on your index finger represents friendship.
How do you celebrate 100 days of love? ›To celebrate 100 days of being together, couples would prepare small gifts, go on a memorable date, take photos, and/or buy couple rings. Couple rings are worn on the fourth finger of the right hand -- this is not to be mistaken for an engagement or a wedding ring. This is the same for every 100 days.
What does Baek mean in Korean? ›Baek (Korean pronunciation: [pɛ̝k̚]), also often spelled Paek, Baik, or Paik is a Korean family name. In the year 2000, there were 351,275 people with this surname in South Korea. The word means the color white.
What is the most beautiful Korean name? ›- Chun-ja (춘자) Stemming from the Sino-Korean chun meaning 'spring' and ja meaning 'child', Chun-ja implies innocence and purity. ...
- Ha-joon (하준) ...
- Ji-woo (지우) ...
- Chang-min (창민) ...
- Seo-yeon (서연) ...
- Jae-sang (재상) ...
- Sung (성) ...
- Ha-eun (하은)
Do not give: expensive gifts (Koreans will feel obligated to reciprocate with a gift of equal value), knives or scissors (they signify "cutting off" a relationship), green headwear, gifts with red writing (denotes death) or gifts in a set of four (denotes death).
What do Koreans call their lovers? ›1. Aein – “Sweetheart” / “Lover” For our first lesson in Korean terms of endearment, aein (“sweetheart” or “lover”) is a pretty great place to start! It happens to be a gender-neutral term too, so you can use it to address men as well as women.
What Korean name means love? ›Aera: A beautiful Korean name for girls that means “love.”
What do Korean girls call their mom? ›Eomeoni / eomma (어머니/ 엄마): The first term is the formal way of saying mother, while the second term is the informal way of saying the same (mom).
What do Koreans call their mom? ›
어머니 (eomeoni)
This is the standard way to say “mother” in Korean. You can use this in most situations when talking about your own mother. If you are talking about your own mother, you need to use the word 우리 (uri), meaning “our,” instead of the word “my.”
Baby celebrations in Korea are a bit different from in the United States where I'm from. Koreans don't usually have baby showers so I thought it was important to invite my Korean husband to my baby shower and let him enjoy this cultural celebration.
What is the gift giving etiquette in Korea? ›Gifts are offered and given with both hands. Wrapped gifts are never opened in the presence of the giver. The gift should be wrapped nicely and preferably in bright colours. Stray away from black and the darker colours or red which connotates death.
What do Koreans grab on their first birthday? ›Traditional Doljabi Items:
Pencil or Brush: The baby will be a scholar. Money: The baby will be wealthy. Rice: The baby will have a life of plenty. Thread: The baby will live a long life.
Full Moon Celebration
Modern celebrations tend to be banquets held in a restaurant by the family. Guest will bring gifts of money in red envelopes, or sometimes jewellery and gold, if the baby is a girl. In return they are treated to a banquet and presented with plates of red eggs and pickled red ginger.
Based on Chinese customs, Red Eggs and Ang Ku Kuehs are significant items to have at the full month celebrations and are given out as gifts to guests. Dyed red eggs symbolise good luck and fortune, and Ang Ku Kuehs (also known as tortoise cakes) signify longevity as turtles have long lives.
What do you put on a 100 day shirt? ›Just grab some foam heart stickers, a permanent marker, and your favorite color tee. Once your stickers are in place, just swap out kindergarten for any grade or keep it simple and just say “loved 100 days of school”!
What do Koreans value the most? ›Korean values include obedience to family, hard work, protection of the family, and proper decorum among family members and is still important, even in the modern world.
How do you show respect in Korean? ›Respect should always be shown to those that are older than you. This involves deferring to their opinion, waiting for their input and lowering your gaze if they are an elder. Objects, gifts and food should be offered and received with two hands. Remove your hat when indoors.
How do Koreans show gratitude? ›The deepest, most polite bow expresses sincerest gratitude or apology. One bends from their torso to around 45 degrees or at such an angle from which the head would have to stretch up to look into the face of the other person. The head is kept lowered in this greeting.
What are some Korean taboos? ›
- Do not wear your shoes in places of worship or peoples' homes.
- Do not put your feet on furniture.
- Do not eat or drink in public places while walking.
- Do not place your thumb between your middle and index finger while making a fist as this an obscene gesture.
- Do not use red ink.
The most famous festivals in Korea are Bonfire Festival, Wangin Culture Festival, Chuseok- Harvest moon festival and Busan One Asia Festival. Name the tribal festivals in Korea. Samjinnal, Hansik, Dano, Yudu, and Sambok are the popular tribal festivals in Korea.
What are some cultural traditions in Korea? ›Older generations still celebrate their birthdays according to the lunar calendar. The biggest festival in Korea today is Seollal (the traditional Korean New Year). Other important festivals include Daeboreum (the first full moon), Dano (spring festival), and Chuseok (harvest festival).
What do Koreans do 100th anniversary? ›To celebrate 100 days of being together, couples would prepare small gifts, go on a memorable date, take photos, and/or buy couple rings. Couple rings are worn on the fourth finger of the right hand -- this is not to be mistaken for an engagement or a wedding ring. This is the same for every 100 days.
Why does South Korea celebrate children's day? ›Children's Day is a national public holiday in South Korea that is observed every year on 5 May. It reflects the high value that families in Korea place on children and the fact that they are the future leaders of the country.
What is the 100th anniversary called? ›centenaries. A centenary is the hundredth anniversary of some event. When your great grandfather turns 100, his birthday party will be the centenary of his birth. If your town is celebrating its centenary, that means it's exactly 100 years old.
What is the symbol for 100th anniversary? ›What is the 100th wedding anniversary symbol? The symbol of the 100th wedding anniversary is a 10 carat diamond.
What is Korean anniversary traditions? ›One of the unique anniversaries Koreans celebrate is two-two day. When Korean date for 22 days, they will celebrate this anniversary. Compared to other anniversaries, two-two day is a light weighted anniversary, for it is mostly celebrated among teenagers. The next anniversary after two-two day is 100 days.
Where did Korean children's day come from? ›It is celebrated every year on the 5th May.
This Holiday was founded by Bang Jeong-Hwan (방정환) a children's writer in 1923 when he wrote an “Open Letter to Adults”. In this letter, he proclaims that “children are the future of our nation” and he wants to in-still children with a sense of independence and national pride.
Children's Day, in Korean 어린이 날 (eorini nal), dates back to the 1920s, during the period of Japanese rule. At this difficult time in history, the writer and activist Bang Jeong Hwan (방정환) realized the importance of educating and training children, was convinced that the children are the future of the country.
Is Childrens day only in Korea? ›
Japan is the only country other than Korea that celebrates Children's Day on May 5th. Moreover, many countries that celebrate Children's Day don't designate the day as a national holiday or do anything exceptional.
Why is 100 a special birthday? ›Generally speaking, most are blessed to have reached this magical number. Turning 100 is the benchmark for an elite club of senior citizens. They usually receive extra attention from their family, friends, and even local media. Reaching your 100th birthday is like breaking a sports record that has stood for decades.
Do Chinese Celebrate babies 100 days? ›People in Hong Kong, China, Korea, Japan, and Singapore hold a baby's 100th day as an especially important occasion, and some even consider the 100-day mark as the baby's first birthday.