According to Chinese tradition, once a baby reaches one month of age, that baby and mother have recovered from the birthing process enough to be presented to the world. A party is held in honor of the baby, a Red Egg and Ginger party.
In China of old, it was customary for mother and child to be homebound for a full month. This is the time for both to gain strength and health. After this critical period is over, the occasion of this blessed event can then be celebrated.
The red egg symbolizes good luck and the ginger (yang) serves a dual purpose (to ward off evil spirits and to equalize the cold (yin) of the new mother).
The traditional diet of the new mother is chicken whiskey soup and pickled pigs feet. Both dishes are nutritious and have medicinal value because they provide a source of protein and calcium, act as a purifier and blood thinner, and also rid the body of cold air in the system.