Dol Ceremony

In the past, when infant mortality rates were high, Korean babies were not seen by anyone but their immediate family for the first 100 days of life. The 100-day mark is celebrated with a big party, called the baek-il. The dol (or doljanchi), a baby's first birthday, celebrates a baby's first birthday and is still seen as an important milestone.

For the ritual, the baby is dressed in bright and colorful traditional Korean clothes. Baby boys wear a hood that is customary for young unmarried men, and the baby girls wear makeup. Seaweed soup, rice cakes and other confections are prepared and stacked high on the table along with fresh fruit to symbolize and ensure a prosperous life.

In the toljabee ceremony, a fortune-telling ritual, the baby is placed in front of objects such as threads, brushes, books, ink and money. The first two objects the child selects are said to tell his or her future. If the child picks up the book, for example, it means the child will become a scholar. A selection of rice or money indicates a wealthy life for the baby.

Importance of Gifts

Exchanging gifts is an important part of Korean culture and shows respect and courtesy for the recipient. Money is a proper gift to bring to any occasion. Specific gifts, such as gold, jewelry, money and clothes, are given at the dol ceremony to bring Korean babies good luck.

Gold

The most common gift for a Korean baby is a gold ring, or just gold. For Koreans, the gift of gold symbolizes good health and fortune, and for a baby, the gold is believed to bring longevity and prosperity. Traditionally, the gift of a ring was seen as currency and often used to pay for a child's education.

Jewelry and Money

Other gifts usually given to Korean babies are jewelry and money. The jewelry is not supposed to be worn until the baby is grown. Money is the most widely given gift at modern dols and is given directly to the parents for safekeeping.