Today marks 100 days since the birth of my child. All jokes aside about my Americanization, it’s always been important to me that my kid hold onto facets of the Korean part of her heritage. Her middle name is Korean, and mythical wife and I have every intention of having her learn some Korean eventually, so she can communicate with the elders on my side of the family among other worldly benefits. But also to recognize Korean traditions like baek-il (백일), because they are most definitely a part of her as they are all other Koreans out there.
In Korean culture, the first 100 days of life is a celebrated occasion. Historically in the old world, 100 days meant a lot to Koreans, because it genuinely was a milestone for a baby to survive that long, due to disease, famine, harsh climates and other various factors that worked against their survival. To this very day, 100-day celebrations are commonplace to Korean culture, in remembrance of tradition and history.
Obviously the advancement of technology and medicine throughout time have diminished the underlying concern over the 100 day survival of modern Korean children. However in 2020, the year of my child’s birth, America is dealing with chaotic civil unrest and the highest mortality rates of a global pandemic on the planet. It certainly feels closer to the old world than the modern one, when you look at it that way.
But social commentary aside, today is still a joyous celebration for my family. My kid has made it 100 days, and given the state of the world right now, that’s more of an accomplishment than it really should be.
