First birthdays, or doljanchi, are celebrated lavishly in South Korea. For a typical doljanchi, the baby would wear traditional Korean attire or his best clothes, and friends and family members would shower him with gifts. During one of the main events of the party, various items are placed in front of the baby and everyone watches as he selects one of the items which will supposedly give some insight on the baby’s future. These items traditionally include money, rice, a pencil, and thread, and more nontraditionally, a stethoscope, a judge’s gavel, a microphone, and a golfball. The baby will never be hungry if he chooses rice; live a long life with thread; be rich with money; and become a scholar with a pencil, a doctor with a stethoscope, a legal authority or lawyer with the gavel, a singer with the microphone, and a professional golfer with the golfball. Some parents may even rent out venues and spend up to $10,000 USD in all expenses including food, entertainment, and gift bags for the guests. Of course, doljanchi isn’t reserved for the upper-class (although they may upscale the event): it’s a common practice among all Korean families. Doljanchi was first practiced during the Korean War, when it was rare for a baby to survive beyond the first year due to the scarcity of food at the time. But today, in a prospering South Korea, doljanchi is still practiced because Koreans regard children as a precious commodity, especially since birth rates have been declining in South Korea lately. Future birthdays would probably be much more low-key, so I think splurging on the first is okay.
Looks like little Chris is going to become a professional swimmer someday.
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