Korean birthday celebrations

328:(traditional word for "luck"). After the prayer the family, relatives and friends celebrate with rice cakes, wine, and other delicacies such as red and black bean cakes sweetened with sugar or honey. In order to protect the child, red bean rice cakes are placed at the four compass points of the house. This not only brought protection, but was also believed to bring good fortune and happiness. It is widely believed that if 100 people share the rice cakes the child will live a long life, so the family would also send rice cakes to neighbors and others. Those who receive rice cakes return the dishes with lengths of thread (expressing the hope for longevity), rice and money (symbolizing future wealth). 361:), it was uncommon for a person to live 60 years. There is a celebration; children honor their parents with a feast and merrymaking. Part of the celebration involves the children of the birthday celebrant; starting with the eldest, they bow and offer wine to their parents. After the children give their respects to their parents, their children show respect to them; again starting with the eldest, in the same way. While these rituals are being carried out, 256:

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 an airplane, ice skates, a

109:, 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 Samsin 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 39: 255:

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 child's 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

386:). He would be required to lift a heavy rock as a test of his strength. If he can lift and move the rock, he is considered a man. A girl would become an adult when she married and showed her non-single status by rolling her braided hair into a chignon bun and fixing it with a 264:

or a computer mouse, to symbolize current successful occupations. In the past, families would use items they had in their household but in modern times, people purchase either a modern or traditional Doljabi set from Korean stores that specialize in Korean traditions.

288:). The Baekseolgi symbolizes sacredness. By this time, the baby and mother are still recovering from birth, so people were not allowed to see them. However, close family members are met and prayed for the healthy recovery of the baby's mother on this day. 231:, 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 377:

A less well-known birthday celebration is when a boy or girl reaches adult age (20 for the boy and 15 for the girl). When a boy turned into an adult he would tie his hair into a top knot and be given a

97:) 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 353:

is complete. Each person is born under one of the twelve zodiac animals. It takes 60 years for the zodiac animal and the element under which one is born to align. Another reason that

27:. When a person reaches an important age in his or her life, Koreans have unique celebrations to mark these milestones. Dol means it has been 365 days since the baby's birth. 316:. They make her offerings of rice and soup for having cared for the infant and the mother, and for having helped them live through a difficult period. They give thanks to 113:

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

243:(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 ( 251:). This is done so that relatives can get better pictures of the infant. There is also a traditional screen in the background. The 369:

feel young, adults and teens dress in children's clothing. They also sing children's songs and dance children's dances.

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is played and professional entertainers sing songs, encouraging people to drink. In order to make the recipient of the

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to the child. After everything on the praying table was ready the mother (or grandmother) of the child would pray to

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that the child wears differs according to the child's sex. A boy would traditionally wear a pink or striped

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Before the main part of the celebration, the baby is dressed in very colorful, ornate clothing called

82:(the birth goddess). Koreans would prepare the praying table with specific foods: a bowl of steamed 306: 232: 188:

would be made of fine silk, with a thread to open and close it. Buttons were not used in the

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Korean Overseas Information Service, Haeoe Kongbogwa (Ed. 1). (1995). Korean heritage Series

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celebration is prayer. Traditionally, Koreans would pray to two of the many Korean gods:

499: 466: 454: 442: 430: 349:. This was considered an auspicious year, since when someone turned 60 the cycle of the 276:

The baby's well-being is celebrated 21 days after the birth with a meal of white rice,

570: 240: 261: 536: 203:. A large table is prepared with over a dozen different types of rice cakes or 522:"Birthday Traditions from Around the World" . Retrieved 10/12, 2008, from < 362: 281: 277: 257: 140:(long jacket), a blue vest printed with a gold or silver pattern or a striped 87: 83: 478: 399: 383: 379: 90: 47: 548:

Korean Embassy. (2000). Birthday celebrations. Retrieved 10/5, 2008, from

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Korean Embassy. (2000). Birthday celebrations. Retrieved 10/5, 2008, from

358: 63:) is probably one of the best-known of the Korean birthday celebrations. 340: 550:

http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/korea/cel/birthday_celebrations.htm

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http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/korea/cel/birthday_celebrations.htm

312:(100th-day celebration). During this celebration, the family worships 387: 524:

http://www.coolest-kid-birthday-parties.com/birthday-traditions.html

117:(the religion that worshiped the Korean gods) is rarely practiced. 285: 110: 37: 98: 86:, seaweed soup (miyeok-guk) and a bowl of pure water. Layered 38: 357:

is so important is that many years ago (before the advent of

180:(belt that wraps around the body twice) for longevity and a 498:

Child's first birthday (tol). Retrieved 10/05, 2008, from

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Doljabi Sets in modern times. Retrieved 12/10, 2020, from

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Child's first birthday (tol). Retrieved 10/05, 2008, from

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Child's first birthday (tol). Retrieved 10/05, 2008, from

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Child's first birthday (tol). Retrieved 10/05, 2008, from

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Child's first birthday (tol). Retrieved 10/05, 2008, from

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When a person turns 60, there was a celebration known as

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Festive Occasions: The Customs in Korea by Yoon Seo-seok

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