Korean culture includes the months the baby spent in the womb when calculating age. 100 days after the birth is approximately 1 year from conception. So in a sense, this is the baby's first birthday. The Korean word for it is "Paek il" and it's defined as "the celebration of baby's first 100 days in which money and other gifts are given to parents for the baby. " There are special kinds of hambok for the babies to wear. For example, a hambok with rainbow colored sleeves. Girls wear an overgarment which resembles the ceremonial robes of the ancient court ladies. In addition to that, a boy will also be dressed in a vest and a hood.
We decided to do a simple celebration and dressed Jasmine up in her red velvet dress. We hosted the celebration at the Korean Church's fellowship hall during church potluck after church service, that way everyone would already be dressed in their best.
Jasmine at her best!
After the baby is properly dressed, they are seated in front of a large table. And on the table you will find different types of food and fruits. You will also find threads, books, calligraphy brushes, ink, money, arrows or daggers, rice, needles, and scissors. After the baby is seated with the objects in front of him/her, everyone attending the ceremony waits patiently to see which object the baby will grab. It is believed that the object which is picked up first will foretell the baby's future. For example, if the baby picks up a calligraphy brush or a book, then it is believed that he/she will be a scholar. If he picks up an arrow or a dagger, he/she will be a soldier. Finally if the baby picks up the money or rice, it is believed that he/she well be blessed with wealth. If the thread is chosen, it is believed that the baby will have a long life. Guests usually bring gift of money, clothes or gold rings. After the ceremony, the departing guests are given rice cakes.
It would have been fun to have Jasmine choose her object, instead of all the traditional extras we had a small gathering for Jasmine, alot of food and fellowship with the church congregation after church service. We had the rice cakes of course. What's a Korean celebration without the "duk" (rice cake)?
Yummy Korean food!
Delicious carrot cake! 
Here are some quirky facts about the Korean tradition:
1) In the old days, there was significantly high infant mortality rates and a baby surviving the first 100 days had a significantly higher chance for survival into childhood and beyond.
Jasmine is 50% Korean and 50% Filipino. She was also born here on Guam. Being the year 2008, her chances for survival has greatly increased, thankfully.
2) Traditionally, for the first 100 days, only very close family are to come in contact with the baby and the baby does not go outside at all.
The first week following Jasmine's birth, we had visitors from church coming in daily bringing us food and a short visit with her. Within that week, we took her out and did some shopping. After that week when my mom was here visiting, we all went out with the baby around the island to give mom a tour. Obviously we aren't sticklers about being couped up at home, but are cautious exposing Jas to anyone sick. She has to develop her immune system sometime and breastfeeding helps.
3) When a baby girl is born, the birth is announced by hanging a white cloth (or a string of peppers for a baby boy) at the front door of the house. It tells visitors that there is a new baby in the house and it is respectful to refrain from visiting in fear of the baby's health.
Since we live on a short block where most everyone knows each other, announcing the gender outside of our home was not necessary. Also, there's the danger of baby snatchers! People were definitely respectful and either called first or let us know they would visit when Jas was a little older.
4) Baby wears only white clothing during the first 100 days, because white cotton clothes are the easiest to sterilize by boiling. On the 100th day the baby wears colorful clothes for the first time and other adults can hold her.
From the time Jas was born she was wearing all kinds of colors - greens, yellows, pinks, blues, purples, and reds.
5) On the morning of the 100th day of the baby's birth, either the mother or the grandmother (of the baby's parents) prepares rice, seaweed soup, and other white items and prays to the ancestors to bless the child with long life and good fortunes. Then the rice and the soup is fed to the birthmother.
I have learned how to prepare this particular seaweed soup, and so since neither my parents nor in-laws live near us, I guess i'll be preparing it myself. I eat this stuff anyway to help with lactation, and it has helped a great deal. It's actually quite delicious.
6) Typically, the baby's hair is cut and tied in a lock and kept in safety until the baby comes of age (age of majority). The hair is returned to the grown child to remind her of the eternal love of her parents. The child would keep the hair as a reminder of the thanks to the parents bringing her into life.
Jasmine has a whole head of hair, but not quite long enough to cut. I think we'll let her hair grow out until it gets long enough to trim or maybe until her first birthday.
7) Prepared white and other rice cakes are shared with as many people as possible to spread the blessing. People who share the rice cakes present gifts to wish happiness and long life.
The rice cakes or "duk" as it is called in the Korean culture is not sweet unlike the rice cakes made in the Filipino culture, which are sweet. Nonetheless, they are delicious and when presented at meals it is usually during a special occasion, such as the 100 day celebration, New Year's day, and other traditional Korean celebrations.
8) Although the baby already has been given a name for the records, adults may see the baby for the first time and give her a baby name as a sign of adoration. Typically this baby name is used only inside the house.
Here's a video of Jasmine, barely three months old already rolling over. Sweet success!
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