The Doljabi

Yesterday's dol (first birthday celebration) was great fun! I said a prayer for Daniel and we then performed the doljabi. A ceremony that is said to determine the future of the baby. Abby helped explain the traditions and symbols to our guests. She was so great!!

Will showed Daniel various items and encouraged him to pick up two.

Daniel's options were:
a book -- scholar
string -- a long life
money -- wealth
calligraphy brush -- artist
baseball -- athlete

The first four options are traditional. I substituted the baseball for a bow and arrow -- I didn't want Daniel to pick the fate of being a great military leader.

Daniel's first choice was the string -- a long life!

And as much as Will hoped that Daniel would pick up that baseball...

...Daniel instead chose the calligraphy brush -- an artist.

The table was decorated with fruit, candy towers and the screen of Korean kings.

After the doljabi we ate bulgogi (Korean beef dish made by the vegetarian) and kimchi. And as he has done for each of Abby's five birthdays, Will made Daniel's first birthday cake!

And without doubt, our long-lived artist birthday boy had a great day!

(Daniel's hanbok is really big on him! Hanboks are expensive, so it is common for the one-year olds to wear a size two -- that way it will fit next year too!)