Zofia turned 100 days old on Monday 30 July, 2007!
In the past, when Korea was still a 3rd world country, infant mortality was high. If you made it to 100 days it was believed that you'd survive, therefore a little ceremony was held to give thanks to "samshin halmoni" (grandmother who takes care of children)-a shamanistic ritual to give thanks and offerings to the goddess honored with rice and soup in gratitude for having cared for the infant and the mother, and for having helped them live through a difficult period. The family, relatives and friends then celebrate with rice cakes, wine, and other delicacies such as red and black bean cakes sweetened with sugar or honey. There are different rice cakes: baekseogi (white steamed rice cakes for longevity, representing cleanliness and freshness), susupo-duk (rice cakes coated with red bean powder to prohibit bad things), injeolmi (glutinous rice cakes for patience), and songpyeon (half-moon shaped rice cakes for thought). It is also believed that if 100 people eat rice cakes the baby will live a long life. (some rice cakes taste better than others).
