#korean birthday
Before I explain about 돌잔치(first birthday party), I will explain the difference between Korean age and foreign age. First, Korean age is calculated that baby will be one year old at the same time as the baby is born . This method was used in East Asian cultures a long time ago, but now only Korea uses it. Next, foreign age is calculated based on the date of birth. So unlike Korean babies who is one years old when they are born, foreign babies start at the age of 0. So after a years, foreign babies is one years old on their next birthday.
Now that I explained how to calculate Korean age, I will begin to explain about 돌잔치.돌잔치 is Korean custom to wish for the longevity of infants with a ceremony to celebrate their first birthday. In the past, many babies died less than a year because of the high infant mortality rate. So It is the origin of 돌잔치 to celebrate the baby’s first birthday and to wish the baby a long life. 돌 of 돌잔치 means spending 12 months. Also people can predict the future of a baby by 돌잡이. 돌잡이 is the custom of putting things in front of a child in front of many people and making him pick them up. In addition to the objects symbolizing occupations, many new kinds of objects are placed in front of children as modern occupations are diversified. Things have different meanings. Thread means you’ll live a long life. Rice means to be a blessed person. Money means to be a rich. Jujube means that many offspring thrive. Book means to be good at studying. Needle means to be a man of great dexterity.
Besides, there is an event that has similar meaning to 돌잔치. This origin is similar to the origin of 돌잔치. It is 백일잔치. 백일잔치 is an event to celebrate the 100th day of the baby’s birth. At this time , people give 수수팥떡 or 백설기( white rice cake ) to their neighbors. 수수팥떡 is rice cake with red bean paste on it. Its red color means it removes bad energy and keeps you healthy. 백설기 means clean energy. So people use them for their first birthday party or 백일잔치. The more I knew the meaning, the more interesting Korean customs were. How about you?
Photographic source
- -블로그 대구전통돌상 대구돌상 파티데이
- -현대돌잡이 [클레이돌잡이 / Yoonclay / 수공예 / 돌잡이용품] : Yoon Clay
- 네이버쇼핑
-Written by Admin Ju
-Edited by Admin Yu
