The birth of a baby is usually followed by three customary rituals: confinement of the mother for a period of 30 days, ensuring that she is fed an appropriate and nutritious confinement diet, and making offerings to ancestors and deities.
The baby's full month celebration is an important tradition in many Asian cultures. It is a joyous occasion that marks the baby's successful completion of its first month of life and provides an opportunity for family and friends to gather, offer blessings, and celebrate the new arrival.
On the first birthday, a set of items are placed before the birthday child so that the child may pick whatever he or she fancies. Whatever item the child picks and successfully gives to his or her parents may be an indication of the child's future career.
The concept of Chinese confinement — “zuo yue zi,” or “sitting the month”— is when a new mother stays at home for one month to allow her body to rest after giving birth. During that time, the pui yuet makes dishes catering to the mother's physical needs and helps her with milk production and other concerns.
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.
Traditional Baby 100 Days Celebration Gift: ang baos
The amount given should end with an even number while favouring the auspicious number eight. Giving new parents an ang bao with $88 or an amount with “88” in it signifies wishing double fortune and blessings.
A 30-day confinement after childbirth is a Chinese tradition that stretches back over two millennia (for C-section birth, it extends to 6 weeks). Known as zuò yuè zi (坐月子) in Mandarin, it's a time when you're meant to safeguard your and your baby's health, while your body is in a fragile state after birth.
The 40-day period is called the lochial period, from 'lochia' the normal vaginal discharge of cell debris and blood after birth. The Bible says “40 days” for the vaginal discharge resulting from involution and can also be described as the red lochia, lasting 4–6 weeks [29].
Showers in China are held after the birth of a baby, as holding them before is considered unlucky). The event is a formal affair and traditionally consists of a large banquet dinner. Guests bring gifts of money in red envelopes for the new baby and parents. (The color red is associated with good luck and good fortune.)
In Chinese culture, a mourning period can last for 100 days, which is the length of time it may take for someone's soul to be reborn as another person. During that period, bereaved people might continue to wear grieving colours, and might feel it inappropriate to go to celebratory occasions, like weddings.
Kids receive red envelopes as gifts.
Children get these red envelopes from their parents, older relatives, and married family members. These red envelopes called hong bao in mandarin symbolize prosperity and happiness. People give red envelopes to show their goodwill and give blessings for the new year.
Other Occasions for Red Envelopes
But red envelopes are not limited to Chinese New Year. It is common to give a red envelope during many other occasions, such as a wedding, graduation, the birth of a baby, or a senior person's birthday, and even funerals. It is a traditional way to wish good luck and share blessings.
According to the Chinese nominal age system, a person is counted as one year old on the day of birth, and becomes one year older, each year, on the day the Chinese New Year is celebrated. This means that, in China, nominal age is usually exaggerated by one to two years as compared with actual age.
Most often, the host pays for the baby shower. This is not always one person. For example, several aunts and cousins might cover the full tab of a shower at a restaurant, or a group of coworkers may help coordinate all the decorations, food and fun.
Another traditional Chinese baby gift is the longevity lock, which is worn either on a bracelet or a necklace and symbolizes good fortune and health for the baby. The tradition dates back to the Han Dynasty when families would hang silk 'longevity threads' over their doors to ward off bad luck.
Traditionally, close friends, cousins, aunts, sisters-in-law, and coworkers of the parents-to-be have been the appropriate hosts for baby shower parties.
Most doctors recommend waiting six weeks after giving birth to have sex again. This allows for general healing and for your body to recover from specific birth-related issues, such as: Vaginal tear or episiotomy (an incision that enlarges the vaginal opening for the baby to come through) Cesarean incision.
Covering of the head
Post delivery, women are made to cover their head with scarf the whole day as a part of North Indian tradition. It is believed that body heat is lost primarily through one's head and that a new mother needs to preserve her body heat to recover.
In some cultures, women stay in the house with their new baby for a month or more. But it is also fine to take your baby outside as soon as you feel ready. It is a good idea to go out when your baby is calm and happy. After a feed and a nappy change is a good time.
A Red Egg and Ginger Party is the traditional Chinese celebration of a baby's one month birthday. The custom dates to ancient times when infant mortality rates were high and new babies were named and celebrated only after a month had passed and survival seemed assured.
In addition to these foods, herbs are often used in traditional postpartum preparations. Commonly used herbs are Huang qi (astragalus), dang gui (angelica), hong zao (jujube fructus), dang shen (codonoptis), and ginger.
Around the world, in many traditional cultures, the first 4-6 weeks after giving birth is known as the golden month – the time for a mother to rest and replenish.
The Baby Bonus Scheme initially granted $2,500 in tax cuts per year for parents of newborns, an amount which was amended to lump-sum payments of $3,000 from 1 July 2004 and progressively rising to its current amount of $5,000 (now paid in 13 instalments).
A $5,000 superannuation baby bonus paid into the person's superannuation account would be equivalent to the amount that a person would receive from Super Guarantee (SG) contributions on a $60,000 wage for one year.
100 Days Baby Milestone is celebrated by many cultures. In Chinese culture, 100 Days is an important milestone for the baby because 100 days of birth celebration represents the wish that the baby will live 100 years and reaches longevity.