Why Do Korean Babies Celebrate 100 Days? – The Meaning and Culture of Baek-il
Baek-il (백일) is a traditional Korean celebration held on a baby's 100th day after birth. In the past, infant mortality was much higher than it is today, so reaching the first 100 days was considered a major milestone for both the baby and the family. While modern Korean families often celebrate with photos, decorated tables, and small gatherings, Baek-il still carries a deeper meaning: gratitude for a baby's healthy growth and hopes for a happy future.
What Is Baek-il?
In Korea, a baby's 100th day is known as Baek-il (백일). Today, many families celebrate the occasion with a special table setting, family photos, or a small gathering, but Baek-il was not originally just a festive event.
Many foreigners are familiar with Korea's first-birthday celebration, known as Doljanchi, but are surprised to learn that Korean families also celebrate a much earlier milestone. While many cultures place great importance on a child's first birthday, Koreans have traditionally paid special attention to the first 100 days of life as well.
That's because Baek-il is not simply about marking the number 100. Historically, it was a celebration of a baby safely passing through the most vulnerable stage of infancy.
Why Are the First 100 Days So Important in Korea?
Today, with modern medicine and healthcare, it may seem unusual to celebrate a baby's 100th day so prominently. In the past, however, the situation was very different.
According to the Encyclopedia of Korean Culture published by the Academy of Korean Studies, the tradition of Baek-il originated during a time when infant mortality was much higher and medical care was far less advanced. Many babies did not survive their first months of life, and parents spent each day hoping their child would remain healthy and safe.
For that reason, reaching 100 days was much more than a date on the calendar. It was often the first moment when families could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
The number 100 also carries symbolic meaning in Korea and other East Asian cultures, where it is often associated with completeness, fullness, and reaching an important milestone. Combined with the relief of seeing a child grow stronger day by day, the 100th day became a meaningful occasion worth celebrating.
Even today, many Korean parents continue to celebrate Baek-il because of this long cultural history and the emotions attached to it.
How Did People Traditionally Wait for Baek-il?
In the past, Korean families observed various customs after a baby was born. One of the most recognizable traditions was hanging a Geumjul (금줄), a rope made from twisted rice straw, at the entrance of the home.
The Geumjul served as a sign that a newborn baby had arrived and that visitors should be careful about entering the house. Families believed it helped protect both the mother and the baby during a vulnerable period.
When a baby boy was born, people often attached red peppers, charcoal, and pine branches to the rope. For a baby girl, charcoal and pine branches were commonly used without the peppers. Charcoal was believed to ward off bad energy, pine branches symbolized vitality and long life, and red peppers indicated the birth of a son while also serving as a protective symbol.
When a Geumjul was displayed, neighbors and even relatives avoided visiting casually. Families followed various taboos intended to protect the newborn, and outside visitors were often asked to stay away for a period of time. Some people also avoided attending funerals or other events associated with misfortune during this stage.
To modern readers, some of these customs may sound superstitious. However, when viewed in the context of a time without vaccines, antibiotics, or modern sanitation, they can also be understood as practical ways of protecting mothers and newborn babies. In some ways, it is not entirely different from how hospitals limited newborn visits during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although Geumjul is rarely seen today, the cautious attitude toward newborns has not completely disappeared. Many parents still avoid unnecessary outings during the first few months, and friends or relatives often say, "I'll visit when the baby is a little older." The methods have changed, but the desire to protect a newborn child remains much the same.
What Is Included in a Baek-il Table?
When a baby reaches 100 days old, many Korean families prepare a Baek-il table, a special display created to celebrate the occasion. Traditionally, two types of rice cakes are considered essential: Baekseolgi (백설기), a white steamed rice cake, and Susu-pat-tteok (수수팥떡), a red bean rice cake.
My daughter and her grandmother at her Baek-il celebration. Like many Korean families, we gathered together to celebrate her healthy first 100 days.
Baekseolgi symbolizes purity, health, and good fortune. Susu-pat-tteok comes from the traditional belief that red beans help ward off bad luck and negative energy. These foods were more than simple snacks—they reflected the family's hopes for the child's healthy future.
Today, many families even order rice cakes decorated with the words Baek-il, "100," or the baby's name. When Koreans receive these rice cakes, they immediately recognize that a baby has reached the 100-day milestone without needing any additional explanation.
There was also a tradition of sharing Baek-il rice cakes with neighbors and relatives. According to the National Folk Museum of Korea, people believed that sharing the rice cakes would bring blessings, good health, and long life to the child. In this way, the celebration extended beyond the immediate family and became something the wider community could take part in.
Modern Baek-il tables are often much more flexible. Some families decorate them with seasonal fruit, flowers, toys, or meaningful keepsakes. Others hire professional services or create their own displays at home. While the appearance may vary, the purpose remains the same: celebrating a baby's growth and creating lasting memories.
How Do Korean Families Celebrate Baek-il Today?
While Baek-il once centered on survival and gratitude, today it is also a chance for families to preserve precious memories.
Many parents schedule professional photo shoots around the 100-day mark, while others prepare a simple celebration at home. Traditional decorations remain popular, but modern parents often add their own personal touches. Hanbok photos, customized decorations, and carefully styled Baek-il tables have become common parts of Korean parenting culture.
One interesting aspect is that, although customs such as Geumjul have largely disappeared, many parents still remain cautious during the baby's earliest months. It is common for families to limit outings before the 100-day mark, and friends or relatives often postpone visits until the baby is a little older.
My Children's Baek-il Celebrations
When my first child reached 100 days, he was the first baby in our extended family. My mother-in-law had waited a long time for her first grandchild, so she prepared an elaborate Baek-il table and celebrated the occasion with great excitement. Because I had signed up for a baby photo album package through my postpartum care center, we also had a professional studio photo shoot shortly after the 100-day milestone.
Things were quite different when my second child reached Baek-il. I was busy caring for my older child and was much more exhausted than I had been the first time around. Instead of arranging a professional photo shoot, we prepared a simple Baek-il table at home and took family photos ourselves. Looking back, I still feel a little regret that I never created a professional growth album for my second child.
Before my children reached 100 days, most of my outings were limited to medical checkups. My mother visited often to help with childcare, but my in-laws tried not to visit too frequently, even though they were eager to see their grandchild. Instead, we shared photos, videos, and video calls so they could watch the baby grow.
One memory that stands out happened shortly after the 100-day mark. I met a few friends from my postpartum care center at a shopping mall and carried my baby in a baby carrier. Walking through the crowd felt surprisingly emotional. After months of moving only between home and hospitals, it felt as though I was finally stepping back into everyday life.
That experience made me realize something about Baek-il. It is not only a milestone for the baby. It is also a milestone for parents, who have spent their first hundred days adjusting to an entirely new life.
How Is Baek-il Different from Doljanchi?
Both Baek-il and Doljanchi celebrate a child's growth, but they carry different meanings.
Baek-il focuses on gratitude for safely reaching the first 100 days of life. Doljanchi, on the other hand, celebrates a child's first birthday and looks toward the future with hopes and blessings.
In a way, Baek-il says, "Thank you for growing safely this far," while Doljanchi says, "May you continue to grow well in the years ahead."
One of the most famous parts of Doljanchi is Doljabi, a tradition in which a child chooses from several symbolic objects believed to represent future talents or success. In the next post, we'll take a closer look at Korea's first-birthday celebration and the meaning behind Doljabi.
What Does Baek-il Mean in Modern Korea?
In the past, Baek-il and a child's first birthday were the most important milestones of early childhood. Today, however, Korean parents often celebrate and document many stages of a child's growth.
As birth rates have fallen and families have become smaller, many parents place even greater value on preserving memories. It is common to see photos marking 50 days, 100 days, 150 days, 200 days, and even 300 days shared on social media or messaging apps. Some parents create themed photo shoots, while others record monthly growth photos to capture every small change.
Baek-il tables have evolved as well. Some families still include traditional rice cakes and fruit, while others decorate with flowers, toys, or personalized items that reflect their family's style. There is no single "correct" way to celebrate anymore.
Baek-il is no longer a celebration of survival in the way it once was. Instead, it has become a meaningful opportunity to appreciate a baby's healthy growth and reflect on the family's first 100 days together.
What began as a traditional rite marking a baby's safe passage through infancy has gradually become a celebration of memories, growth, and family. Although many customs have changed over time, the desire to cherish a child's early days remains an important part of Korean family life.
COMING UP NEXT
Korea's First Birthday Celebration
After Baek-il, Korean families celebrate another important milestone: a baby's first birthday. In the next post, we'll explore the traditions, family gatherings, and unique customs that make Korea's first birthday celebration so special.
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