My cousin’s daughter just celebrated her first birthday.  In Korea, it’s called “Ddol”.  Long ago, due to the lack of medical information on children’s diseases in Korea, most children often did not see their first birthday.  If they made it to their first birthday, it was celebrated as a significant event as their chances of survival from that point on increased.  Of course now, with the improvements/advancements in medicine, knowledge and technology the need to celebrate the Ddol is more tradition rather than anything else. 

During the celebration, there are many symbolic elements:  the Ddol table, the Ddol Jabee, the Ddol bohk, the Ddol dduk to name a few. 

 The Dol table is piled high with the Ddol dduk (+/- 12 different types of multi-coloured rice cakes), fruits, rice and soup signifying prosperity for the child.   Usually, there are TONS of pictures taken of the birthday kid sitting at this table wearing a traditional Ddol Bohk: hanbok for girls or jjoguri/pants for boys .  Yeah, I had one too…but I also had a THRONE.  Top that!!  :) 

The Ddol Jabee (grab) is more or less a grabbing game for the child.  There are 7 different objects placed on the table and the child is supposed to go around the table and whichever item they choose signifies what their future lies.  Usually the first two are the most important.

Pen/Pencil or Book:  the child will become a scholar

Money:  the child will be wealthy

Rice:   the child will never be hungry

Ruler/Needle/Scissors:  the child will be artistically talented

Bow/Arrow/Knife:   the child will be a warrior/soldier

Thread:   the child will live a long life

Jujube:  the child will have many descendants

 *Usually the parent will place the items that they want their child to grab closer to the edge of the table…to which I then usually yell out, “CHEATER!”

 Anyway, on Saturday was Monica’s Ddol party.  It was held in a banquet hall with a shitload of food.  Matt and I were both physically sick after stuffing tons of Kalbee (Korean short ribs) and dduk in our mouths.  If I had been wearing a belt, I would have definitely had to undo it.  

I don’t think Monica liked her Ddol outfit though.  The hat was looking quite uncomfortable and after a bit of sweating and dramatic wailing on her part, her parents finally relented and changed her into a more Western outfit. 

It was fun though…It was Matt’s 2nd Ddol party so he knew to fast for 2 days prior to the event.  I think maybe next time, we’re going to have to keep our stomachs in fighting shape by drinking lots of water though.  Yeah, that’s it.