3 Different Kinds Of Full Month Packages

Are you planning for a baby full month celebration in Singapore soon? The preparation can be quite stressful especially if you are in-charge of everything from deciding on what food to serve to searching for full month packages. In Chinese culture, the proud parents should hold a gathering during the baby’s first month birthday as a way to introduce him/her to friends and relatives. Often, this is also the time to announce the baby’s name.

Giving away full month packs to all invited guests is part of the tradition to share the parent’s happiness to everyone. Hence, if you are searching for package ideas, you can find lots of options since there are various stores offering packages for full month celebration. Here are three of the most common packages.

Simple Full Month Package

As the name suggests, the simple package features only basic items or gift favours. Unlike other packages, this pack often contains 3 types of foods and a personalised baby card. In some shops, you can pick which food to include on the pack whilst others have fixed list so you don’t really have a choice. If you prefer the typical full month package, you may opt for the box type wherein all the favours will be arranged inside. Meanwhile, there are shops that offer simple packs in a more attractive packaging, such as bucket or pouch. The simple full month package is ideally suited to those who have limited budget.

Regular Full Month Package

If you have allocated average budget for the full month packages, you can go for the regular pack. For this particular package, there are usually 4 to 5 types of foods depending on the shops where you order the packs. Since the regular pack contains more favours inside, it comes in bigger box as compared to the simple pack. However, if you opt for unique containers such as bucket or suitcase, obviously the size would be the same as the simple package. They will just differ in terms of the contents. The regular pack may cost from $9 to $14.

Premium Full Month Package

In case budget is never an issue for your baby full month celebration in Singapore, the premium type of full month package will be the best option. In comparison to the other two types of packages, it is loaded with more favours inside which will surely delight the recipient. There are usually 6 to 10 types of foods included in the premium pack, although it would depend on the offering of the shop. Some of the foods are red eggs, ang ku kuehs, chocolate, tea bags, honey, cookies, cupcakes, and others. Majority of the stores also offer customised baby card for this package. The cost of the premium packages ranges between $15 and $20.

When you order for baby full month packages, be sure to enquire regarding the minimum number of purchase. Other shops offer extra freebies if you buy more. You can browse over the internet for a list of stores offering baby full month packs or you may ask recommendation from friends. These days, it is no longer tedious to prepare for the baby’s first month celebration considering that there are ready-made packages you can easily buy. Furthermore, you can hire a catering service to serve food for a worry-free full month celebration.

 

What Are The Significant Food Items For The Baby Full Month Packages

The first important event for the newly born baby is the baby full month packages celebration. On the baby's 30th day, sacrifices are offered to the gods so that the gods will protect the baby in his subsequent life. Ancestors are also virtually informed of the arrival of the new member in the family.

On this auspicious day of the baby full month packages celebration, the family will offer prayers to the gods and ancestors of their home. This includes food offerings and burning incense, thus informing the deities of the new addition, and appealing to the spirits to protect the child. Families will also be required to shave the baby’s head. It’s more common these days for families to simply snip a lock of hair as a symbolic nod to this ritual. The shaving of the head is a sign of preparing the baby for life in the community with good health, happiness and success.

Once the head is shaved, the mother and baby are bathed in water mixed with pomelo leaves, to help wash away and ward off bad luck and evil. Usually the baby is dressed in red and adorned with gold accessories during this ritual as well.

Significant food items for the baby full month packages

Red eggs

Dyed red eggs are an integral part of the baby full month packages celebration as it symbolizes happiness and the renewal of life, as well as announce the arrival of a newborn baby.

Ang ku kueh (“Red turtle cakes”)

The dough of the "red turtle cake" is dyed red for good luck. This kueh also signifies longevity as turtles have long lives. Thus, the “ang ku kueh” is made to resemble a turtle's back.

Glutinous Rice

In Singapore, the Chinese prepare a glutinous rice dish to distribute along with the red eggs. Different dialect groups have different ways of making this dish. The Teochew version is sweet and steamed while the Hokkien version is savoury and fragrant, cooked with fatty pork, dried shrimp, Chinese mushroom, dark soy sauce, and fried shallots.

Peanut candy

The peanut candy is also another delectable ‘sweet’ distributed along with the baby full month package gifts. It signifies all things sweet and happiness in the birth of the new born baby.

Party Time At a Full Month Packages

A baby’s full month is seen traditionally as a significant milestone in Chinese custom. This is why the first month occasion is a cause for celebration with parents throwing a full month packages party where cakes and goodies are given to family members and friends. 

What is a baby full month packages

"Full Moon" signifies the new born baby’s attainment of a full month's survival in good health, which calls for a celebration. According to Chinese custom, when a baby turns one month old, a ceremony is held to celebrate his/her first full month of life. This coincides with the end of the new mum's confinement period.  

What does a baby full month packages involve?

It’s party time for a baby full month packages with lots of food, gifts and an appropriate theme to celebrate this occasion.

Typically, in Singapore a family celebrating a baby’s full month will hold a party and invite guests to come to the party. Most of these parties usually take place at home or in restaurants.  It is common to cater a buffet for the guests, with traditional ‘auspicious’ treats like red-dyed eggs, ang ku kueh and pickled red ginger.

Auspicious foods

In Chinese culture, red represents luck, prosperity and happiness. Therefore it is very common to see that ‘red’ foods are served in this baby full month packages party. Eggs represent new life and fertility.  Ang Ku Kueh, a traditional Hokkien rice cake, shaped like a turtle and stuffed with a variety of pastes like peanut and beans, represents longevity and fortune.

Theme

A party is always more interesting and engaging when it is themed. Themes are lovely ways to involve the children of your guests to enjoy.

Gifts

Guests would be showering the baby with loads of gifts. Expect baby products in the forms of strollers, baby’s clothes, gifts vouchers, toys and even hampers coming your way. Some would give red packets as a symbol of blessing. Preparing small gift packs as giveaways is a great way of showing your appreciation for your guests’ attendance for this baby full month packages party.

Traditions Of A Chinese Baby Full Moon Celebration

The arrival of a baby is a precious gift.

According to Chinese customs, when a baby turns one month old, a ceremony is held to celebrate the baby’s first full month of life (the Chinese term translates as "full moon" or "full month"). This coincides with the end of the new mum's confinement period, and both mother and baby are formally introduced to the extended family and friends. For many of them, this will be the first time they are meeting the new born baby. It is a joyous occasion.

A baby’s full month is seen traditionally as a significant milestone in Chinese custom. This is why the Singapore full month packages are very popular and parents usually celebrate this baby full month occasion by throwing a party where cakes and goodies are given to family members and friends.

Before unveiling the party, the baby traditionally undergoes a host of rituals. Once that is over, a baby full month party is held to celebrate the health of the baby. Relatives and friends gather to give their blessings and gifts to the new born baby, and traditional treats such as ang ku kueh and red eggs are served.

Baby full month packages party catered by full-fledge caterer can come in a form of a buffet spread for guests, to smaller family-only get-togethers. Parents normally host the celebration at home if they have the space, or book and rent a venue (hotel or large restaurant) to accommodate everyone.

Do I need to observe all the traditional customs?

This is up to you to decide. Some families hold fast to traditional customs; others find it more practical to do things differently. Tradition dictates that on the morning of this auspicious day, the family will burn incense paper and offer prayers to the gods and ancestors of their home, thus informing the deities of the new addition, and appealing to the spirits to protect the child.

Families will also be required to shave the baby’s head. It is more common these days for families to simply snip a lock of hair as a symbolic nod to this ritual. The shaving of the head is a sign of preparing the baby for life in the community with good health, happiness and success.

Once the head is shaved, the mother and baby are bathed in water mixed with pomelo leaves, to help wash away and ward off bad luck and evil.  Another age-old practice is dressing your baby up in gold-coloured attire and "presenting" him to his ancestors at the family altar. 

If you have not named your baby yet, tradition dictates that the paternal grandfather picks a suitable name. Choosing your baby's name is an important Chinese custom as it is believed it will determine your baby's character.

One custom you may be happy to hold fast to is accepting ang pau or hongbao (red packets) and jewellery for the baby, from relatives and friends. It is a symbol of good blessing.  Today, parents and the newborn receive modern gifts too, such as baby clothes, toys, books and gift vouchers.

Party time – What food to serve at my baby's full month celebration

Traditional cakes and eggs, dyed red to symbolize good luck and fortune, are given or sent to relatives and friends. Eggs are chosen as they represent fertility and their shape symbolizes harmony. It is believed that if you have a boy, you give out an odd number of eggs; if you have a girl, you give out an even number of eggs. 

Some families include roast meats, savory glutinous rice and traditional buns at their gatherings. Each dish is significant in its offering, as in days gone past these items were hard to come by and so their presence meant it was a special occasion. If you are holding your event at home, several caterers offer specific full moon packages, where you’ll be able to choose your favorite dishes.

Do not forget the pickled ginger.  The Cantonese word for “sour” has the same pronunciation as grandson, so it is said that the sour pickled ginger signifies many more grandsons to come!

Theme

A party is always more interesting and engaging when it is themed. Singapore baby full month packages include themes that offer lovely ways to involve the children of your guests to enjoy.

Gift packs as giveaways

Preparing small gift packs as giveaways is a great way of showing your appreciation for your guests’ attendance and blessings