I've mentioned before that Pufferfish's dad is Korean. For her first birthday party, we're going to be celebrating in a traditional Korean way. I am just copying off a page of info that Diana gave me, but I thought I'd post it for you because its so interesting!
What Is Tol? Tol has two meanings in Korean. The most common meaning is a child's first birthday. It can also be used as a generic description for birthdays: Chut-tol (first birthday), Dut-tol (second birthday), Seo-tol (third birthday), and so on.
Why Is It Significant? In the past, due to a lack of medical information, Korea's seasonal temperature differences, and many childhood related diseases, the death rate for children was extremely high. Many children died before their first birthday. After the age of one year, the survival rate steeply increased, making this milestone a very happy one for the child's parents!
Traditions: The traditional celebration has four major components... Praying and giving thanks, Making and wearing the birthday clothes, Preparing the table and performing the Toljabee, and Sharing the food with guests and neighbors.
Clothing: Traditional Korean clothing has its roots extending back at least as far as the Three Kingdoms Period (57 BC- 668 AD) The clothes worn for the tol (tol-bok) are colorful, dressy clothes. They differ depending on the child's sex. Both boys and girls wear a long tol-ddi (a belt that wraps around the body twice) for longetivity, and a tol-jumuni (pouch) for luck. Silk cloth is used to make the tol-jumuni, folded at the top with a colorful thread pull-string to open and close.
Event: At the birthday celebration, certain items will be set out on a table. (This is the Toljabee.) Pufferfish will go around the table and pick up items that attract her. Her future will be predicted according to what she grabs. After placing Pufferfish in front of the table, Jimmy will become the guide for her to go around the table and grab whatever she wants. The first and second items she grabs are considered the most important. Usually Korean parents place items that they want the child to choose near the edge of the table.
If she chooses the needle and thread, Pufferfish will live a long life.
Choosing jujube or apples means the child will have many descendants.
A book, pencil, etc, will mean she'll become a successful scholar.
Rice or rice cakes means she'll be rich!
A ruler, needle or scissors mean she'll be talented with her hands!
A knife means she'll be a good cook.
In modern times, some Korean families put different things out on the table. For instance, golf balls, a computer game, or a stethescope.
There will also be a birthday cake, and a formal picture of Pufferfish will probably be taken at the party!
Pufferfish is actually having a two-day-long birthday party this year. On Saturday we'll have a regular backyard party at the house, and then on Sunday evening is the Tol. I'll post more about these parties after they happened!
Wish little Pufferfish a happy birthday!
