Parker's Tol Celebration!

In Korean tradition, Toljabee, or Tol for short, is a child's first birthday celebration. We wanted to honor Parker's Korean heritage by creating a Tol celebration for him. Here is a little background information of what this celebration means. 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. In modern times, due to the improvements in medicine, the influence of Western culture, and modern industrialization, the Shamanistic reasons for the Tol celebration have been reduced. However, the event is still celebrated as a time of congratulations for the parents and family. The traditional celebration had four major components which we modified:
1) Praying and giving thanks
2) Making and wearing the birthday clothes
3) Preparing the table and performing the Toljabee
4) Sharing the food with guests and neighbors

We dressed Parker in a traditional Hanbok that my sister-in-law Brigette's mother sent us all the way from Korea. Isn't it just the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?? We were so excited to put Parker in it! Rob and I also wore Hanboks for part of the celebration.











The parents, or in our case, Grandma Moon, prepare a special Tol table to celebrate the child's birthday.The main food includes ddeok (rice cakes) and fruits. Fruits can vary according to the season of the birthday. Different colors of seasonal fruits can be prepared and displayed in a row. We modified a bit on the food, as the rice cakes aren't very tasty and expensive. Instead I had a co-worker of mine who also does specialty cakes make a beautiful cake for us!









As part of the Toljabee, Parker was placed on the middle of the table for pictures. Then items are placed on the table in front of him that represent his future and whichever item he grabs first is supposed to predict his future. We just grabbed some things around the house...a book (Scholar), a pen (Writer), money (wealth), thread (long life), stethiscope (Doctor), etc. Parker grabbed the money and placed it directly in his mouth!





Some more pictures during the party....