Baek-il (백일) is the celebration of a baby's 100th day of life in Korean tradition. Reaching 100 days has long been treated as a milestone worth celebrating, and today families mark it with food, photos and time with relatives. Details vary by family and region.
Why the 100th day matters
It is commonly explained that, in the past, many babies did not survive their earliest months, so reaching 100 days was a reason to give thanks and celebrate the baby's health. That spirit lives on: Baek-il is a way to thank the people who helped and to wish the baby a long, healthy life.
Traditional foods
Rice cakes (tteok) are at the heart of the table. White steamed rice cake (baekseolgi) is often served for a clean, bright start, and red bean rice cake (susu-gyeongdan) is commonly included for good fortune. Other tteok such as injeolmi are popular too, and fruit and other dishes often round out the spread.
The food is for the guests, not the baby. At 100 days babies drink only breast milk or formula, and your pediatrician can tell you when baby is ready for solid foods.
Sharing with others
A well-known tradition is to share the rice cakes with family, neighbors and friends - sometimes with as many as 100 people - in the hope that baby will live a long life. Many families today send small boxes of tteok to relatives who live far away.
Ideas for celebrating at home
- Set up a simple Baek-il table with rice cakes, fruit and flowers as a photo backdrop.
- Dress baby in a hanbok if you have one, or a soft outfit in celebratory colors.
- Take a portrait with a '100 days' sign or card so the photo is easy to date.
- Ask relatives to write wishes for baby and keep them in a keepsake book.
- Plan around baby's naps and feeds so everyone gets a happy baby for the photos.
From Baek-il to Doljanchi
Baek-il is followed by doljanchi, the first-birthday celebration, which is a bigger occasion in Korean tradition. Many families start collecting photos and keepsakes at Baek-il so they have a story to share at the first birthday.