1.

BIRTH TRADITIONS
The first part of the dol celebration is prayer. Traditionally, Koreans would pray to two of the
many Korean gods: Sanshin (the mountain god) and Samshin (the birth goddess). Koreans
would prepare the praying table with specific foods: a bowl of steamed white rice, seaweed
soup (miyeok-guk) and a bowl of pure water. Layered red bean rice cakes (samshin siru)
were placed next to the prayer table. The rice cakes were not shared outside the family; it
was believed that sharing this particular item with people outside the family would
bring bad luck to the child. After everything on the praying table was ready the mother (or
grandmother) of the child would pray to Sanshin and Samshin, placing her hands together
and rubbing her palms. She would ask for her child's longevity, wish luck to the mountain
god, and give thanks to the birth goddess. After she finished her prayer, she bowed to
Samshin several times. Women were the only ones allowed to participate in this ceremony;
men were forbidden to be part of the praying. When the praying ceremony commenced
depended on the region. People from Seoul would pray in the early morning of the child's
birthday; other regions prayed the night before. Today this part of the celebrations is usually
skipped, because Muism (the religion that worshiped the Korean gods) is rarely practiced. [2]

Before the main part of the celebration, the baby is dressed in very colorful, ornate clothing
called dol-bok. The dol-bok that the child wears differs according to the childs sex. A boy would
traditionally wear a pink or striped jogori (jacket) with purple or gray paji (pants), a
striped durumagi (long jacket), a blue vest printed with a gold or silver pattern or a
striped magoja (jacket), a jonbok (long blue vest) with a gold or silver pattern, a bokgun (black hat
with long tail), and tarae-busun (traditional socks). A girl would wear a striped jogori, a long
red chima (skirt), a gold-and-silver printed jobawi (hat) and tarae-busun. In addition to their dol-bok,
boys and girls would wear a long dol-ddi (belt that wraps around the body twice) for longevity and
a dol-jumuni (pouch) for luck. The dol-jumuni would be made of fine silk, with a thread to open and
close it. Buttons were not used in the dol-bok, to symbolize longevity. [3]

The Toljabee is the main celebration of Tol. A large table is prepared with over a dozen different
types of rice cakes or ddeok (the main food). Some types of ddeok are paekseolgi (white steamed
rice cakes), susu-kyongdan (rice cakes coated with rough red bean powder), mujigae-
ddeok (rainbow-colored steamed rice cakes) and gyep'i-ddeok (puffed-air rice cakes). Along with
the deeok, fruit is also served; the fruit on the table varies, depending on the season. There is also a
bowl of rice and various other foods placed on the table. Food is not the only thing on the table,
however; there is also a large spool of thread, a brush, a Korean calligraphy set, a pencil, a book,
money (10,000-won bills) and a bow and arrow (or a needle, ruler and pair of scissors for girls). After
the table is set, the parents sit the baby on a traditional Korean mattress (bolou) and Korean
cushions (bangsuk). This is done so that relatives can get better pictures of the infant. There is also a
traditional screen in the background. The toljiabee then begins. The baby picks up various items on
the table that attracts him or her. The items that the child picks up are said to predict the childs
future. If the child picks up the thread, the child will have a long life. A child who picks up the pencil,
book or calligraphy set is forecast to be a good scholar. A child who picks the rice, rice cakes, or
money will become rich; some say that choosing the rice (or a rice cake) means the child is
unintelligent, or that they will never be hungry. If the ruler, pair of scissors or needle is chosen, it is
said that the child will be dexterous. If the child chooses the knife, they will become a good chef. In
the modern era, people often prepare modern objects such as sports equipment, a microphone,
a stethoscope or a computer mouse, to symbolize modern talents. [4]