Red Egg and Ginger Party to Welcome New Baby

Red egg and ginger is a balance of Yin and Yang to welcome the newborn baby.

According to Chinese culture, the party is thrown to introduce their latest addition to friends and relatives... or Moon-Yut as the Chinese calls it. It’s usually held a month after the baby is born, where its name will be announced too.

Why red egg and ginger? Egg represents fertility, while its round shape symbolises harmony, and the colour red means happiness. And ginger is important to balance the Yin (cold) and the Yang (warm) on Chinese food. Ginger spices up the food needed by new mothers, who are all tired and weak after giving birth. New mothers will also eat a special soup broth made out of pig’s feet, eggs, vinegar and ginger to give more strength.

Guests who come to the party will bring gifts inside red envelopes - some money for baby boys and expensive jewellery for baby girls. They also bring some other presents, like hats, shoes – all are in tiger-print. Based on Chinese mythology, tiger is king of all animals that can protect babies. To add more luck, they put golden, silver or jade charms on the hat. The tiger shoes also have eyes on them, to keep an eye on babies on their first steps.

At the ceremony, baby’s hair will be shaved for the very first time. The origin of this tradition is unknown, but it’s speculated that by removing first hair, it marks the child’s independent existence. Today many Asian parents believe that shaving girl’s hair will encourage the growth of long thick hair.

In ancient times, the Red Egg and Ginger party is also a symbol of gratitude. In the past China experienced a very high infant mortality rate. So it’s an important milestone for any baby to pass 1 month. But overtimes, the party is modified to modern culture. Parents might choose to hold the party in big fancy restaurant, accompanied with Chinese performers or magicians. And the baby might be already three months old by the time the party is held... but the custom of passing on red-dyed eggs continues.



(traditionscustoms.com, chinesefood.com, littlebuddhababy.com)