Doljanchi Information & Doljanchi Links at HealthHaven.com

Doljanchi
Korean name
Hangul	돌 or 돌잔치
Hanja	n/a
Revised Romanization	dol or doljanchi
McCune–Reischauer	tol or toljanchi

Dol or doljanchi is a Korean tradition that celebrates the birthday of a one-year-old baby. This ceremony blesses the child with a prosperous future and has taken on great significance in Korea. The birthday babies wear a hanbok and a traditional hat; jobawi or gulle for baby girls and bokgeon or hogeon (호건) for baby boys.

The highlight of the dol is a ritual where the child is placed in front of a table of foods and objects such as string, books, brushes, ink and money. The child is then urged to pick up an object from the table, where it is believed the one selected will foretell the child's future. For example, if the child picks up a brush or book, he is destined to be a scholar. If he picks up money or rice, he will be wealthy; cakes or other food, a government official; a sword or bow, a military commander. If the child picks up the thread, it is believed he will live a long life. This is followed by feasting, singing and playing with the toddler. Most often, guests will present gifts of money, clothes, or gold rings to the parents for the child at this time.

[edit] The Background of 'Dol'

Koreans celebrate a baby's first birthday or "Dol" by giving a big party. Friends and relatives are invited to the party or "Dol janchi", praying for the baby's longevity, good luck, and prosperity. People bring gifts such as gold rings, clothes, or money. Parents share various kinds of food with guests.

In the past, the death rates for children were high and many children died before their first birthday. So the first birthday was an important milestone to the baby and parents. The whole village used to celebrate a baby's first birthday, sharing foods and wishing for long life and fortune for the baby.

[edit] 'Doljabi'

Doljabi

There is an interesting event called Doljabi during this party. The baby is propped up at a table of various foods and an assortment of objects and urged to pick up one of the items. It is believed the item the baby picks up symbolically foretells his or her own future or would influence his or her fate.

On the table are usually money, a large bundle of thread, rice, and a pencil. If the baby picks money, it means he or she is going to be wealthy. Rice means the baby will never have to go hungry throughout life, which was a very important aspect when people often suffered from famines. The baby will live a long life with thread and be a scholar by picking a pencil.

Now some parents put a computer mouse on the table, which means the success in the high-tech field, or a toothbrush, hoping that the baby will be a dentist.

[edit] 'Dol' food

Tteok, rice cake for doljanchi

At home family members give thanks to Samshin (three gods who take care of the baby's life while growing up) by serving plain rice, seaweed soup, and rice cakes. For the party, parents prepare a special 'Dol' table, where food is stacked high to symbolize a life of prosperity for the baby. The table is set mainly with a rice cake of pretty rainbow layers, seaweed soup, and fruits. A seaweed soup (translated from 'Miyuk-guk') is served on every birthday after the first birthday to remind people of what their mother went through to bring them into the world.

[edit] Gift for Dol

The first birthday of a baby is celebrated by the parents' friends as well as close relatives, who often present gold rings and clothes to the baby. But a growing number of people are now choosing to present parents with money due to the recent hike in gold prices.

[edit] Modern Doljanchi

The celebration is usually held in buffet restaurants or wedding halls where wedding receptions are also held. Parents prepare some prizes for guests and upon entering the party, everyone gets a piece of paper on which a number is written. During the party guests who correctly answer a question about the baby win a prize. The host of the party, or an entertainer, also calls out a number randomly, and the person who has that number receives a prize.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Doljanchi