Here she is!
Eloise was born at 3.42pm on Tuesday, January 5th 2026 at the Cedars Sinai hospital of Los Angeles.
Eloise’s Manyue
When a baby turns one month old in Taiwan, families celebrate an important milestone called “Manyue” (滿月) — literally “full moon.” Historically, reaching the first month of life marked a significant threshold in a newborn’s survival. Today, it remains a meaningful cultural tradition that blends family gathering, symbolism, gratitude, and blessings for the child’s future.
For Eloise’s manyue, we went to the local taoist temple in LA, then welcomed Ivy’s parents and brother at our place to share a meal and take an “official” photo of Eloise surrounded by symbolic items. Each object carries a specific wish for her future — prosperity, health, intelligence, strength, and harmony.
The symbolism of each item
🍍 Pineapple — Good fortune to come
In Taiwanese Hokkien, pineapple (ong-lai) sounds like “prosperity arrives.” It symbolizes incoming luck and success.
🍚 Rice — Offerings to the ancestors
Rice represents continuity, gratitude, and connection to previous generations. It is both a staple of life and a traditional offering in ancestral rites.
🌱 Green Onions (Scallions) — Intelligence
The word for scallion (cōng) sounds like the word for “clever” or “intelligent” (聰). It expresses the wish that the child will grow up bright and perceptive.
🥕 Radish — Fruitful beginnings
Radish symbolizes auspicious beginnings and positive momentum in life.
🍎 Apples — Peace and safety
The Mandarin word for apple (píngguǒ) contains the character for peace (平). Apples therefore represent calmness, safety, and stability.
🍊 Oranges — Luck and prosperity
Oranges are commonly associated with good fortune and wealth, especially during festivals.
🪨 Stones — Strength
Stones symbolize resilience, solidity, and the strength to endure life’s challenges.
🥚 Hard-boiled eggs & red eggs — Beauty and blessing
Eggs symbolize fertility and new life. Red eggs in particular are traditionally given during manyue celebrations, as red represents joy, protection, and good fortune.
🌿 Chinese Chives — Growth
Chives represent steady growth and long-lasting vitality.
🌾 Celery — Humility and diligence
Celery symbolizes modesty and hard work — virtues deeply valued in traditional Chinese culture.
🌰 Longan — Health
Longan (literally “dragon eye”) is associated with nourishment and well-being.
🧧 Red Envelopes — Prosperity
Red envelopes containing money represent blessings of financial abundance and future success.