Doljanchi

Dolordoljanchi(Korean:돌; 돌잔치) is a Korean tradition that celebrates a baby's first birthday.
The tradition has been practiced since the earlyJoseonperiod. The ceremony typically involves the ritual offering of asamsinsangto the godSamsin(whom is said to watch over children), the preparation of adolsangwith various foods and ritual objects, and adoljabi(based on the Chinesezhuazhou), where children are encouraged to pick up an object that is said to predict their future.
The practice has changed over time. Traditionally, thedoljanchiwas held at the family home and involved a number of ritual offerings. Now, the practice is often held at reserved venues and is celebrated as a secular party. Its practice has also spread internationally with theKorean diaspora.
Dolis a native Koreanmeasure wordfor a child's age.
First birthdays for children have been consistently cherished in Korea. This was especially so in the past, wheninfant mortalitywas high. Across social classes and generations, thedoljanchihas marked a significant milestone for families, and involves celebrations and rituals that express hope for the child's health and future.
Traditionally, on the morning of the ceremony, the family prepares a ritual food offering calledsamsinsang(삼신상;三神床).The offering is dedicated to a god calledSamsin, who is said to watch over the wellbeing of children.The most basic form of the offering consists ofmiyeok-guk, rice, and ritually pure water (정화수), and is placed by the mother of the child in generally theanbang(private room for women).The family then eats a meal ofmiyeok-gukand rice.
The child is then dressed in ornate traditionalKorean clothing. Boys wearjeogori,baji,jokki,magoja,durumagi, and bluekwaeja, as well as abokgeonon their head andbeoseonon their feet. Girls wear a colorfuljeogori(sometimes adangui) with a redchima. On their head they wear ajobawiorgulle, and on their feet they weartarae beoseon. All children wear adolttiaround their chest anddoljumeonion their waist.
Guests are invited to thedoljanchi. The guests generally bring gifts for the child and family, including money, rice, thread, silverware, furniture such as tables, blankets, jewelry, and clothing.One traditional gift is adolbanji, a solid gold ring. This custom originated from Chinese immigrants to Korea in the early 20th century.
Adolsang(돌상;돌床;lit.doltable) is then prepared, and traditionally placed in either theanbangor thedaecheong(common floor space of the household).The table itself is traditionally round (둥근상;原盤), in order to avoid having corners that the child can bump into.Abyeongpung(Koreanfolding screen) is often placed behind the table.The table usually has two types of objects: ritual objects and food. The ritual objects are relevant for thedoljabiceremony.
Foods are piled high in decorative fashion on the table.Examples of foods include fruit, vegetables, grilled foods, rice, noodles,miyeok-guk,jeon,yakgwa, andgangjeong.Particularly popular, and increasingly so in recent years, are rice cakes:songpyeon,baekseolgi,gaepi-tteok, red beangyeongdan, andinjeolmi.These foods can have various symbolic meanings. For example,baekseolgican express wishes for a clean and pure spirit.Songpyeon, which look plump, can express wishes that the child will always be well fed.Red beangyeongdansymbolize warding off bad luck.
Doljabi(돌잡이) is a ritual ceremony held during thedoljanchi.The child is placed in front of thedolsang, and told to pick up any of the various ritual objects on the table. These objects have symbolic meaning; it is believed that whichever object the child picks up first represents what the child will have luck with in the future.
Examples of objects and their meanings include books, ink, brushes, or paper (intelligence and success in thecivil service examinations); money (wealth); rice (having enough to eator wealth);bowsorswords(martial talentor bravery),sewingequipment (household skills), and threads or noodles (longevity).
Parents and relatives often coax the child to choose certain objects, although children do not always follow these wishes.
After the ceremony, hosts can distributetteokto their neighbors. In turn, the neighbors can offer their own gifts, such as money, rice, or thread. These gifts were traditionally put inside the same container used to bring thetteok.
The practice emerged possibly around theJoseonperiod, with early attestations to the practice amongst theyangbanclass around the mid-16th century.Doljabi, which descends from the Chinese ritualzhuazhou, is attested to during this period.It also became practiced by Korean royalty; in 1791, the future kingSunjopicked up arrows and an instrument during hisdoljabi. The royal household then distributed rice cakes to government ministers, royal guards, servants, and commoners in the streets.The ceremony is attested to in Joseon-era texts such as theKukchobogam[ko]andChibong yusŏl.
The practice and its interpretation has evolved over time, especially as infant mortality is no longer high.The ceremony is now an industry, with various services expressly for the ceremony available.Venues such as hotels and banquet halls can be booked.Recentdoljanchihave involved practices such as inviting people to a banquet hall, serving catered food, and hiring professionals such as photographers, stylists, andemcees.Gift bags can be given out to guests.Hanbokcan be rented for the ceremonies.Some see the ceremony as an opportunity to demonstrate wealth or status. In response to this, some have intentionally opted to hold more intimate and frugal ceremonies.
Gifts given atdoljanchihave also changed over time. Rice and clothes were common gifts until the mid-1950s.In the early 20th century, the practice of giving gold at such ceremonies reportedly arrived from China.In recent years, some have opted to give cash instead of gold, depending on the price of the metal.
Pre-prepared kits fordoljanchihave been attested to being sold online, on e-commerce websites such asAmazonandEtsy.
The practice has been observed in theKorean diasporaand in mixed culture families.For example, aKorean Americanceremony had the ceremony as an outdoor picnic with a mix of Korean and American foods.
The objects represented indoljabihave varied. Examples includestuffed animal toys(becoming aveterinarian),stethoscopes(becoming a doctor),gavels(becoming a judge),microphones (becoming an entertainer),computer mice(working in tech),and passports (becoming a diplomat).
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