|
Korean birthday celebrations or Dol are one of the important facets of Korean culture. When a person reaches an important age in his or her life, Koreans have unique celebrations to mark these milestones. Dol has two meanings in Korean. The most common meaning is a child's first birthday or Doljanchi. It can also be used as a generic description for birthdays: Cheot-dol (first birthday), Du-dol (second birthday), Seo-dol (third birthday), etc. == ''Dol'' (돌)== ''Dol'' (''doljanchi'', or ''tol'') is probably one of the best-known of the Korean birthday celebrations. ''Dol'' is celebrated for the first birthday of a child. When Korea had little medicinal knowledge, many newborns would die from childhood diseases or because of Korea’s seasonal temperature differences. When a child lived to be a year old during that period, it was a very joyous occasion. 〔Child's first birthday (tol). Retrieved 10/05, 2008, from http://www.lifeinkorea.com/culture/tol/tol.cfm#baekil〕 The first part of the ''dol'' celebration is prayer. Traditionally, Koreans would pray to two of the many Korean gods: ''Sanshin'' (the mountain god) and ''Samshin'' (the birth goddess). Koreans would prepare the praying table with specific foods: a bowl of steamed white rice, seaweed soup (miyeok-guk) and a bowl of pure water. Layered red bean rice cakes (''samshin siru'') were placed next to the prayer table. The rice cakes were not shared outside the family; it was believed that sharing this particular item with people outside the family would bring bad luck to the child. After everything on the praying table was ready the mother (or grandmother) of the child would pray to ''Sanshin'' and ''Samshin'', placing her hands together and rubbing her palms. She would ask for her child's longevity, wish luck to the mountain god, and give thanks to the birth goddess. After she finished her prayer, she bowed to Samshin several times. Women were the only ones allowed to participate in this ceremony; men were forbidden to be part of the praying. When the praying ceremony commenced depended on the region. People from Seoul would pray in the early morning of the child's birthday; other regions prayed the night before. Today this part of the celebrations is usually skipped, because Muism (the religion that worshiped the Korean gods) is rarely practiced. 〔Child's first birthday (tol). Retrieved 10/05, 2008, from http://www.lifeinkorea.com/culture/tol/tol.cfm#baekil〕 Before the main part of the celebration, the baby is dressed in very colorful, ornate clothing called ''dol-bok''. The ''dol-bok'' that the child wears differs according to the child’s sex. A boy would traditionally wear a pink or striped ''jogori'' (jacket) with purple or gray ''paji'' (pants), a striped ''durumagi'' (long jacket), a blue vest printed with a gold or silver pattern or a striped ''magoja'' (jacket), a ''jonbok'' (long blue vest) with a gold or silver pattern, a ''bokgun'' (black hat with long tail), and ''tarae-busun'' (traditional socks). A girl would wear a striped ''jogori'', a long red ''chima'' (skirt), a gold-and-silver printed ''jobawi'' (hat) and ''tarae-busun''. In addition to their ''dol-bok'', boys and girls would wear a long ''dol-ddi'' (belt that wraps around the body twice) for longevity and a ''dol-jumuni'' (pouch) for luck. The ''dol-jumuni'' would be made of fine silk, with a thread to open and close it. Buttons were not used in the ''dol-bok'', to symbolize longevity. 〔Child's first birthday (tol). Retrieved 10/05, 2008, from http://www.lifeinkorea.com/culture/tol/tol.cfm#baekil〕 The ''Toljabee'' is the main celebration of ''Tol''. A large table is prepared with over a dozen different types of rice cakes or ''ddeok'' (the main food). Some types of ''ddeok'' are ''paekseolgi'' (white steamed rice cakes), ''susu-kyongdan'' (rice cakes coated with rough red bean powder), ''mujigae-ddeok'' (rainbow-colored steamed rice cakes) and ''gyep'i-ddeok'' (puffed-air rice cakes). Along with the ''deeok'', fruit is also served; the fruit on the table varies, depending on the season. There is also a bowl of rice and various other foods placed on the table. Food is not the only thing on the table, however; there is also a large spool of thread, a brush, a Korean calligraphy set, a pencil, a book, money (10,000-''won'' bills) and a bow and arrow (or a needle, ruler and pair of scissors for girls). After the table is set, the parents sit the baby on a traditional Korean mattress (''bolou'') and Korean cushions (''bangsuk''). This is done so that relatives can get better pictures of the infant. There is also a traditional screen in the background. The ''toljiabee'' then begins. The baby picks up various items on the table that attracts him or her. The items that the child picks up are said to predict the child’s future. If the child picks up the thread, the child will have a long life. A child who picks up the pencil, book or calligraphy set is forecast to be a good scholar. A child who picks the rice, rice cakes, or money will become rich; some say that choosing the rice (or a rice cake) means the child is unintelligent, or that they will never be hungry. If the ruler, pair of scissors or needle is chosen, it is said that the child will be dexterous. If the child chooses the knife, they will become a good chef. 〔Child's first birthday (tol). Retrieved 10/05, 2008, from http://www.lifeinkorea.com/culture/tol/tol.cfm#baekil〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Korean birthday celebrations」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|