In Korean culture, a baby’s 100th day of life is a big milestone. The tradition started back in the day when most babies didn’t live past the first 100 days after birth. Although the same doesn’t apply today, it still marks a celebratory moment for the baby AND the parents (finally sleeping through the night, yay).
Additionally, pregnancy + 100 days after birth = one (1) full year.
The 100 days celebration centerpiece would be the decorated table. Items you prepare for your 100 days celebration will vary depending on your personal preference.
I opted to do a “simple” at-home self baek-il table (백일상).
(Tip: I taped magnets to the back of the paper flowers and wooden letters and held them up by putting magnets on the back of the window shade)
Medium-Large Table (Just your normal kitchen table should be fine)
Rice Cakes
- Song-pyun – 송편 (top dish): It represents many blessings and to enjoy fullness in life (to not be empty).
- In-jeol-mi – 인절미 (left of middle dish): It represents a good life.
- Su-su-paht-Tteok – 수수팥떡 (right of middle dish): The red energy of the red beans ward off bad luck and prays for the long life and health of the child.
- Ggool-Tteok – 꿀떡 (bottom dish): This literally means honey rice cake. It is full of sugar and very tasty.
- Baek-sul-gi (백설기): The pure white represents hope for the child’s long life. Some Korean rice cake bakeries offers the service of adding the pink hearts on them.
White Cake: This is not mandatory, but you can just request it at any bakery or even bake it yourself at home. I personally ordered mine from Paris Baguette and just asked them not to put any toppings and leave it as just a plain white cake.
- “Happy 100 Days” cake topper can be ordered on Amazon.
Fruit that is in season.
String to represent long life.
Personal items I chose to add:
Sonogram (Ultrasound) photos, baby shoes, baby keepsake box, and personalized ABC Book.
A framed letter to our daughter w/ the meaning of her name.
A small pink blanket w/ her name embroidered on it.
