Baby 100 Days Celebration: Past to Present In Brief

As far as mathematics is concerned, various cultures have considered that 100 is a number of great significance. For example, 100 is the basis of percentages, and per cent literally means ‘per hundred’ in Latin. On the Celsius scale, 100 degrees is the boiling point of pure water at sea level. Many currencies use 100 subunits to make 1 unit, for instance, one Hong Kong dollar is one hundred cents and one pound sterling is one hundred pence. And let’s not forget, a child who scores 100 in a school assessment is often referred to as ‘getting the perfect score!’

This powerful number, which construes the meaning of perfection, wholeness and milestone, has long been associated with a baby’s birth in traditional Chinese, Japanese and Korean culture. It is traditionally believed that the first 100 days after the child’s birth is the most vulnerable period for both the mother and the newborn. Therefore, they are advised to stay home to avoid contracting diseases. This is why making through the first 100 days is the perfect time to celebrate.

100 Days Celebration in Chinese Culture

At traditional Chinese 100 days celebrations (百日宴), prayers and food will be offered to the ancestors together with the burning of incense to wish the baby good health and protection them from bad spirits. Some families will shave the baby’s head, while some have already replaced the ritual with snipping a hair lock. Families will share red eggs and pickled ginger with friends, neighbours and other members of the family. A celebratory dinner know as “100th day dinner (百日宴)” will also be host to share the joy with relatives and friends, who will offer baby gifts, clothing, tiger shoes and hats for the baby (which symbolises good health and energy) and accessories such as the longevity pendant and bracelets for wrists and ankles.

100 Days Celebration in Korean Culture

In Korea, 100 days celebration is known as ‘Baek-il (백일)’. A family would traditionally pray and give food offerings such as rice and sea mustard soup to thank the Shaman spirit. Some rice cakes are placed within the house according to the four main compass directions so that the baby would be protected. Some families will also share steamed rice cakes with 100 people, particularly family, relatives and friends, in exchange for the baby’s good health and longevity.

100 Days Celebration in Japanese Culture

In Japan, babies’ 100 days celebration comes in the form of ‘Okuizome (お食い初め)’, also known as the first eating ceremony. Family members will pretend to feed the baby various types of food, including rice, soup, fish, and boiled vegetables, following the order of “rice, soup, rice, fish, rice, soup” and repeat the order three times. Lastly, a stone will be placed to their lips to symbolise good gastronomic luck and strong, hard teeth. It is also a tradition for the oldest person in the family to ‘feed’ the baby, possibly symbolising longevity.

The Modern Babies’ 100 Days Celebration

Modern 100 days celebrations have been gaining momentum in recent years in Singapore and Hong Kong, mainly driven by millennials aged 25 to 32. Because millennials are less bound by traditions, their babies’ 100 days celebrations allow far more flexibility and creativity than before. Venues are no longer restricted to one’s home, but range from cafés to playrooms to restaurants to hotel ballrooms. Food preference has also become more westernised, typically involving canapés, cute cartoony pastries and large custom-made cakes. Other increasingly important additions include helium balloons, personalised banners, balloon artists, magicians, etc. However, it is also noticeable that the traditional-style 100 days celebration is making a comeback in the form of modern-traditional hybrid, thanks to the roots-searching millennials.

All in all, when it comes to creating the most unforgettable memory on this perfect day, to mark the baby’s first of many firsts, modern parents will continue to explore creative 100 days celebration ideas that will continue to drive the evolution of this perfect day.