Korean birthday celebrations facts for kids
Korean birthday celebrations, also known as Dol, are a big part of Korean culture. When someone reaches an important age, Koreans have special parties and traditions to mark these moments. Dol specifically means it has been 365 days since a baby was born.
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Dol: Celebrating a Baby's First Year
The Dol celebration (or doljanchi) is one of the most famous Korean birthday parties. It celebrates a child's very first year of life.
Getting Ready: Special Clothes and Prayers
In the past, the Dol celebration started with a prayer. Koreans would pray to old Korean gods like Sanshin (the mountain god) and Samshin (the birth goddess). They would set up a special table with foods like steamed white rice, seaweed soup (miyeok-guk), and pure water. Special red bean rice cakes (samshin siru) were also placed there. These rice cakes were kept within the family, as sharing them was thought to bring bad luck to the child. The child's mother or grandmother would pray, asking for the child to live a long life and thanking the birth goddess. Only women took part in this prayer. Today, this prayer part is usually skipped because the old religion (Muism) is not widely practiced anymore.
Before the main party, the baby wears very colorful and fancy clothes called dol-bok. The style of dol-bok is different for boys and girls. A boy might wear a pink or striped jacket (jogori) with purple or gray pants (paji). He might also wear a long jacket (durumagi), a vest, or another jacket (magoja). A black hat (bokgun) and traditional socks (tarae-busun) complete his outfit. A girl would wear a striped jogori with a long red skirt (chima). She would also wear a special hat (jobawi) and tarae-busun. Both boys and girls wear a long belt (dol-ddi) for a long life and a small pouch (dol-jumuni) for luck. The dol-jumuni is often made of fine silk. The dol-bok clothes do not use buttons, which also symbolizes a long life.
The Toljabee: What Will Your Future Be?
The Toljabee is the most exciting part of the Dol celebration. A big table is set with many different kinds of rice cakes (ddeok). Some popular types are white steamed rice cakes (paekseolgi) and rainbow-colored rice cakes (mujigae-ddeok). Fresh fruit is also served, changing with the seasons. Besides food, many special items are placed on the table. These include a large spool of thread, a brush, a Korean calligraphy set, a pencil, a book, money, and a bow and arrow (or a needle, ruler, and scissors for girls).
The parents sit the baby on a traditional Korean mattress and cushions. This helps everyone get good pictures of the baby. Then, the Toljabee begins! The baby is encouraged to pick up any item on the table that catches their eye. The item the child chooses is believed to predict their future.
- If the child picks up the thread, they are predicted to have a long life.
- Choosing the pencil, book, or calligraphy set means the child will be a good scholar.
- If the child picks the rice, rice cakes, or money, they are expected to become rich.
- Picking the ruler, scissors, or needle suggests the child will be very skillful with their hands.
- If the child chooses a knife, they might become a great chef.
Today, families often add modern items to the table. These can include a toy airplane, ice skates, a microphone, a stethoscope, or a computer mouse. These items represent successful jobs in our modern world. In the past, families used things they already had. Now, many people buy special Doljabi sets from stores that focus on Korean traditions.
Baek-il: The 100-Day Milestone
Another important birthday celebration is Baek-il, which celebrates a baby's 100th day. During this celebration, families traditionally thank Samshin, the birth goddess. They offer her rice and soup. This is to show thanks for taking care of the baby and mother during the first difficult months. They also pray for wealth, a long life, and good luck for the child.
After the prayer, the family, relatives, and friends celebrate together. They enjoy rice cakes, wine, and other tasty foods. Red bean rice cakes are often placed at the four corners of the house. This is believed to protect the child and bring good fortune. It is also widely believed that if 100 different people share the rice cakes, the child will live a very long life. So, families often send rice cakes to their neighbors and friends. Those who receive the rice cakes usually return the dishes with gifts. These gifts might include lengths of thread (wishing for a long life), rice, or money (symbolizing future wealth).
Hwangap: Turning 60 in Style
When a person turns 60, there is a special celebration called Hwangap. This year is considered very lucky. This is because at age 60, a person completes a full cycle of the Korean zodiac. Each person is born under one of twelve zodiac animals. It takes 60 years for a person's birth animal and element to line up again. Another reason Hwangap is so important is that long ago, before modern medicine, it was rare for someone to live to be 60 years old.
The Hwangap celebration is a big party. Children honor their parents with a feast and lots of fun. A key part of the celebration involves the birthday person's children. Starting with the oldest, they bow and offer wine to their parents. After the children show their respect, their own children (the grandchildren) do the same. While these traditions happen, traditional music is played. Professional entertainers sing songs and encourage everyone to have a good time. To make the 60-year-old feel young, adults and teenagers sometimes dress in children's clothes. They might also sing children's songs and do children's dances.
Growing Up: Coming-of-Age Rites
A less known but important celebration is when a boy or girl reaches adulthood. Traditionally, this was at age 20 for boys and 15 for girls. When a boy became an adult, he would tie his hair into a top knot. He would also be given a Gat (a traditional cylindrical Korean hat made of horsehair). As a test of his strength, he would need to lift a heavy rock. If he could lift and move the rock, he was seen as a man. A girl would become an adult by rolling her braided hair into a bun (chignon). She would then fix it with a Binyeo, which is a long, fancy hairpin.
