maternity
Baby Yunice
Hong Kong-based model, insurance agent and eyelash stylist, Karena
Kwan, celebrated baby Yunice’s 100 days at the Verandah restaurant
in Repulse Bay. They chose to have a western lunch buffet party with a
live band as they wanted their guests to feel relaxed. Beautifully detailed
party decorations, with the baby’s name and initials, added a personal
touch to the special occasion and the photos will be a long lasting
memory for Yunice when she grows up!
T
he birth of a baby is a joyous
occasion and is celebrated in
a variety of ways by different
cultures all over the world. In
many cases traditions are observed,
especially in those first few precious
moments of life. Chinese culture and
tradition dictates that a baby’s first
month (also known as the full moon) or
now more commonly the first 100 days,
should be marked with a celebration as
it is an auspicious occasion, not only for
the family but the newborn baby as well.
The origins of when and how this
tradition began do not date back to a
specific time, however in ancient times,
when medical care was scarce, the infant
mortality rate was very high, and therefore
for a baby to reach the one month mark
was a cause for celebration. This period
also marks the end of confinement for the
mother. In more modern times, whilst the
end of the first month is still considered
to be an important milestone for both
the mother and the baby, it is more
commonplace to celebrate the 100 day
mark, thus allowing the mother and baby
significant time to rest and recover and
also minimising the risk of exposing the
baby to germs.
The celebration itself is called many
different things: a full moon party, the
100-day celebration, red egg and ginger
party. Whatever the name, the sentiments
are the same; to welcome a new child
among family and friends, and for many it
may be the first time they are meeting the
baby. And whilst some things may have
been left open to interruption and also
personal preference, there are a few key
elements that remain the same.
New parents Pam and Michael, born
in Hong Kong and raised in the United
Kingdom, recently celebrated the birth
of their baby boy, Matthew, at Jardine
House in Central with a 100 day banquet.
“The celebration is much like a Chinese
wedding with a big banquet that typically
comprises of a feast of 12 dishes”, says
Pam. Ginger vinegar and dyed red eggs
were distributed to family and friends. A
part-time professional MC, Pam, also put
together a video clip of her pregnancy
and Matthew’s first few months for family
and friends to enjoy. She began to plan
this celebration before the baby’s arrival,
and as the beautiful pictures show, the
event was wonderful
Red eggs symbolise the birth of a
baby, because they are a symbol of the
changing process of life and the shape
symbolises harmony and a new life.
They are dyed red because the colour
red is a sign of happiness in Chinese
culture. These are sent to the family
upon the arrival of a baby and given out
at the celebration itself alongside pickled
ginger. The customs vary in different
parts of China and also based on family
traditions. For example, in central China,
when a new baby is born, red eggs will
be sent to the grandma on the mother's
side. If the eggs have a black dot at one
end, it means the baby is a boy. The red
eggs should be sent in an even number,
six or eight eggs, wishing the baby boy
will get a wife when he grows up. If the
red eggs don't have black dots, and the
eggs are an odd number, five or seven,
it means the new baby is a girl, and the
odd number wishes the baby girl will
get married in the future. In some cases
the even and odd numbers can change
depending on the sex of the baby and
your own family tradition.
As the first month and/or 100 days
marks many ‘firsts’ in a baby’s life, it is
not uncommon for parents to shave a
baby’s head to commemorate the child’s
independent existence, and also to
stimulate new hair growth. Today, families
may simply clip a lock of the baby’s hair
to store as a keepsake. And now in
more modern days, a baby’s hand and
foot are often cast to mark the event and
to have as a keepsake.
Autumn 2019
25