There are many customs around the birth of a baby around the world! Far from the baby showers of our western countries, VitaminInternet invites you to ancient imperial China to discover Bai Jia Bei, a touching Chinese tradition, to celebrate the arrival of a baby and welcome him to the world. A great idea that we quickly want to adopt!
What is Bai Jia Bei ?
Practiced in certain regions of China, Bai Jia Bei is a tradition that allows welcoming the baby while ensuring the protection of the spirits. The Bai Jia Bei is a patchwork blanket made from 100 pieces of fabric sent by 100 relatives to the mother-to-be on the occasion of the upcoming birth.
Tradition has it that each piece of fabric comes with a greeting card, wishing the newborn good luck and luck. The patchwork blanket, in French “the blanket with 100 wishes”, thus becomes the symbol of all the people who have come together to welcome the baby. The child will be protected by the wishes and the energy of the 100 people who will have contributed to the making of the blanket …
The origin of Bai Jia Bei
The last Empress of China, Empress Cixi, was only one of the Emperor’s many concubines of China until she gave him a child, the Emperor’s sole heir. Legend has it that one day she had to go away and was forced to leave her child alone.
Lest the other jealous concubines come after him, she begged each of the 100 most powerful families in China to give her a piece of silk. With these 100 pieces of fabric, she then asked the tailor of the palace to make a long dress for the child. Thus, symbolically, he was then under the protection of the largest families in China, and his mother reassured, was able to leave without fear.
This story spread across China, and many families imitated the Empress’s gesture, replacing the long dress with a blanket, thus giving birth to the tradition of Bai Jia Bei.
I want one too !
In recent years, this pretty tradition has become more and more popular in France. Indeed, to welcome their children in their new homes according to the rites of their country of origin, many parents adopting Chinese children have taken up this custom!
Do not hesitate, you too, to be inspired by this tradition to celebrate the arrival of the baby! At the start of your pregnancy, ask your family and friends to send a piece of fabric (usually 10cm / 10cm made of 100% cotton) to make your own Bai Jia Bei.
Once completed, the blanket will measure 1m / 1m. Use a fabric of this size to make the lining of the blanket. You just have to sew the pieces of fabric together then the lining or ask the future granny to do it;). A nice gift and a beautiful symbol that will constitute for baby (and for you!) A magnificent memory of his birth …