Koreans have very strong ideas when it comes to the proper birthing and upbringing of a child. Mainly rooted in traditional Eastern medicine and Confucian philosophy, there are many wonderful customs that can be celebrated in modern life even outside of Korea.

The most important of these traditions might be celebrating Dol: a baby’s first birthday. Rooted in the joy families felt as their baby survived their first year of life, this celebration takes many different forms but shares a few traditions that connect Korean babies to their heritage.

sanhujori

Author : Lee Hye-Jun

Korean Post Natal Care: Sanhujori

Sanhujori (산후조리): Korean postpartum care is sacred and special

In western countries, women take a shower immediately after childbirth. They have a regular diet, start walking around, and go out in the cold weather. On the other hand, Korean women are advised not to take a shower for a week or more. They are not allowed to put their hands in cold water. For the first three weeks after childbirth, getting out of the house is strictly forbidden unless you dare to sneak out and not get caught by your own mother. Last but not least, seaweed soup will show up on the table of every meal for months.

Read More about Sanhujori
baby-feet

Author : Hanyoo Park

Korean 100th Day Celebration: Baek Il

Baek Il, the Korean 100th Day Celebration

The first 100 days, or baek il, of a Korean child’s life used to be a very somber and anxious time as the infant mortality rates in Korea were once alarmingly high due to disease and malnutrition. It was also a time for the mother to recover from the trauma of childbearing.

Other than close maternal relatives, it was inappropriate to visit a new mom or baby for at least 21 days after the baby’s birth. These 3 weeks called sam chil il, which translates to three x seven days, were devoted to the care of the child. But they were also focused on the restoration of the mother’s health.

During this time, the mother was not to shower, walk barefoot, drink cold water, or put her hands in cold water. She also ate great quantities of miyeok guk in order to nourish both her own body and enrich the breast milk that would nourish her child. Sam chil il, is not such a hard and fast rule these days but Koreans definitely still take very seriously the proper recovery needed after childbearing.

Celebrating the Baek Il

The 100th day used to be celebrated as the time that the child is out of the woods, so to speak, and can finally be taken outdoors and introduced to neighbors, friends and relatives. Infant mortality being much less an issue in the modern era, most Koreans will celebrate simply by setting up a nice table laden with the traditional Korean treats and take photos to commemorate this day with family and close friends.

For those in the US, there are many places that offer a complete baek il party kit complete with signage and other Korean accessories to make the celebration simple and elegant.

PRO TIP: If there is only one thing that should be done on this day it is the celebrating with a white rice cake called baekseolgi (or any white cake!), and sharing with as many neighbors and friends as possible. This sharing of cake is a traditional way to bring many blessings to the child.

You can also easily make your own set up with plates of traditional foods and fruit to commemorate the occasion. Though baek il is a celebration, many people skip a large party on this day and instead celebrate the child’s first birthday with a big doljanchi instead.

Read More about Baek-il
dol table small

Author : Hanyoo Park

Korean 1st Birthday: Doljanchi

Guide to Doljanchi: Korean 1st Birthday

Doljanchi 돌잔치 is the first birthday celebration for a Korean child. Dol 돌 means birthday and janchi 잔치 means banquet or feast, so technically doljanchi means birthday party.

Though there’s no need to worry that a doljanchi is anything other than a first birthday party, you will sometimes see this event called “cheot” dol, 첫돌, or “first” birthday.

For the doljanchi, parents celebrate by having a party with many traditional foods and rituals. Although plenty of people celebrate with a small home party, there is a cottage industry both in Korean and the US to make these celebrations unforgettable occasion that rival weddings in cost, scale and grandeur.

A modern Korean doljanchi which includes many elements of a traditional dolsang.
History of Doljanchi

doljanchi korean first birthday

The tradition of the Korean doljanchi has its roots in the 18th century. Before Korea became a developed country with modern universal healthcare, infants often fell victim to disease and starvation. In 1800, every second child in South Korea died, and even in the 1950s the infant mortality rate was an alarming 26%. Therefore the completion of an infant’s first year was a major milestone to be celebrated even in the most humble households. By throwing a big party, families wished the child good health and longevity.

These days, Korea is a wealthy country where the infant mortality rate is down to .3%, about half that of the US. However, the birthrate in Korea is the lowest in the world, and parents are still going all out for their baby’s first birthday celebration, sometimes booking hotel banquet halls as soon as a child is born.

Dolsang
Read More about Doljanchi
dol table small

Author : Hanyoo Park

Korean Zodiac: Ddi

The Korean Zodiac

What is the Korean Zodiac or ddi?

The Korean zodiac is believed to have originated in China during the Han Dynasty over 2000 years ago. Many Asian cultures including Korea still use it today. Ddi refers to your zodiac animal based on the year you were born and it’s a big deal in Korea. A very common question you will hear among Koreans is ‘What’s your Ddi?’. When someone asks about your ddi, they are not only getting a sense of your personality as people in the West do with signs of the zodiac, but they may also be working out your age or making decisions about compatibility.

Though traditional superstitions are waning in Korea, many Koreans still consider the representative animal of each year when making choices in career, finance, and marriage.

One’s ddi is so important in Korean superstition that you will often see a bumper crop of babies born on years considered to be extra lucky such as 2019, which was the year of the golden pig. The Korean zodiac is also important in matchmaking as some animals are thought to be more compatible than others.

The 12 Animals of the Korean Zodiac
Chinese calendar animals_2
Read More about Korean Zodiac

Korean Post Natal Care

Korean Post Natal Care: Sanhujori

Author: Lee Hye-Jun

Sanhujori (산후조리): Korean postpartum care is sacred and special

In western countries, women take a shower immediately after childbirth. They have a regular diet, start walking around, and go out in the cold weather. On the other hand, Korean women are advised not to take a shower for a week or more. They are not allowed to put their hands in cold water. For the first three weeks after childbirth, getting out of the house is strictly forbidden unless you dare to sneak out and not get caught by your own mother. Last but not least, seaweed soup will show up on the table of every meal for months.

Saam-chil-il: 3 Weeks of Hard Core Recovery
Read More about Sanhujori

Korean 100th Day Celebration

Korean 100th Day Celebration: Baek Il​

Author: Hanyoo Park

Baek Il, the Korean 100th Day Celebration

The first 100 days, or baek il, of a Korean child’s life used to be a very somber and anxious time as the infant mortality rates in Korea were once alarmingly high due to disease and malnutrition. It was also a time for the mother to recover from the trauma of childbearing.

Other than close maternal relatives, it was inappropriate to visit a new mom or baby for at least 21 days after the baby’s birth. These 3 weeks called sam chil il, which translates to three x seven days, were devoted to the care of the child. But they were also focused on the restoration of the mother’s health.

During this time, the mother was not to shower, walk barefoot, drink cold water, or put her hands in cold water. She also ate great quantities of miyeok guk in order to nourish both her own body and enrich the breast milk that would nourish her child. Sam chil il, is not such a hard and fast rule these days but Koreans definitely still take very seriously the proper recovery needed after childbearing.

Celebrating the Baek Il

The 100th day used to be celebrated as the time that the child is out of the woods, so to speak, and can finally be taken outdoors and introduced to neighbors, friends and relatives. Infant mortality being much less an issue in the modern era, most Koreans will celebrate simply by setting up a nice table laden with the traditional Korean treats and take photos to commemorate this day with family and close friends.

For those in the US, there are many places that offer a complete baek il party kit complete with signage and other Korean accessories to make the celebration simple and elegant.

PRO TIP: If there is only one thing that should be done on this day it is the celebrating with a white rice cake called baekseolgi (or any white cake!), and sharing with as many neighbors and friends as possible. This sharing of cake is a traditional way to bring many blessings to the child.

You can also easily make your own set up with plates of traditional foods and fruit to commemorate the occasion. Though baek il is a celebration, many people skip a large party on this day and instead celebrate the child’s first birthday with a big doljanchi instead.

One lovely tradition that many people still keep up today is the baekseolgi, or white rice cake. The parents of the child either make or order a large baekseolgi and give it out to at least 100 people! This means sometimes walking around the neighborhood or apartment building to pass out the baekseolgi to neighbors and friends. This was believed to bring the blessings that would help protect the child throughout his or her life. [See video at the end of the article to make baekseolgi at home.]

If you can’t find baekseolgi, use any white cake and share with friends and neighbors to celebrate this tradition.

If you are invited to the 100-day celebration, you can bring a gift of clothing or other appropriate baby accessory that you might give at a baby shower.

Special Tradition for Boys
100th day baby
A male child was traditionally photographed nude to mark his 100th day.

In the old days, before Korea became the lowest birthrate country in the world, Koreans believed that one of the main roles in life was to produce children, particularly boys! Boys were so prized that on the 100th day, a photo was taken of the child completely nude to show off a certain part of their anatomy.

Children traditionally served as a kind of familial pension plan for parents as children, and the first son was expected to care for his elderly parents both financially and physically in the later years. The old fashioned Korean bias of preferring sons has much improved over the years, but it is still illegal for doctors to tell parents the gender of their unborn child.

You can order baekseolgi at a Korean tteok (rice cake) shop or sometimes even at a Korean grocery store. If you want to try making it yourself, try Maangchi’s recipe below.

Read More about Baek-il

Korean 1st Birthday, Doljanchi

Korean 1st Birthday: Doljanchi​

Author: Hanyoo Park

Guide to Doljanchi: Korean 1st Birthday

Doljanchi 돌잔치 is the first birthday celebration for a Korean child. Dol 돌 means birthday and janchi 잔치 means banquet or feast, so technically doljanchi means birthday party.

doljanchi korean first birthday

Though there’s no need to worry that a doljanchi is anything other than a first birthday party, you will sometimes see this event called “cheot” dol, 첫돌, or “first” birthday.

For the doljanchi, parents celebrate by having a party with many traditional foods and rituals. Although plenty of people celebrate with a small home party, there is a cottage industry both in Korean and the US to make these celebrations unforgettable occasion that rival weddings in cost, scale and grandeur.

History of Doljanchi
Korean doljanchi circa 1948.
Korean doljanchi circa 1948.

The tradition of the Korean doljanchi has its roots in the 18th century. Before Korea became a developed country with modern universal healthcare, infants often fell victim to disease and starvation. In 1800, every second child in South Korea died, and even in the 1950s the infant mortality rate was an alarming 26%. Therefore the completion of an infant’s first year was a major milestone to be celebrated even in the most humble households. By throwing a big party, families wished the child good health and longevity.

These days, Korea is a wealthy country where the infant mortality rate is down to .3%, about half that of the US. However, the birthrate in Korea is the lowest in the world, and parents are still going all out for their baby’s first birthday celebration, sometimes booking hotel banquet halls as soon as a child is born.

Dolsang

Sang means table, and dolsang is a key component of the doljanchi. There is significant meaning to each item that is placed on the table and the tradition is intended to wish the best life for the child.

In the States, there are many places where you can rent an entire dolsang setup. You can inquire at your local upscale Korean restaurant or order online from a site like Etsy. Check carefully for reviews and pictures from satisfied customers.

Read More about Doljanchi

Korean Zodiac, Ddi

Korean Zodiac, Ddi​

Happy Year of the Rabbit! A Guide to the Korean Zodiac

2023 is the year of the Water Rabbit. The Lunar New Year starts on January 22, 2023, and ends on February 9, 2024. The Rabbit is the fourth animal in the Korean zodiac and is associated with traits such as gentleness, kindness, and diplomacy. When combined with the water element, which is associated with creativity, intuition, and flexibility, the Year of the Water Rabbit is thought to be a time of harmony, creativity, peace and luck.

People born under the sign of the Rabbit are kind, friendly, intelligent, cautious, skillful, gentle, and quick. They dislike conflict and like to find solutions through compromise and negotiation. On the negative side, Rabbit people have the potential to be superficial, secretive, stubborn, melancholy, and indecisive.

Which animals will thrive in the Year of the Rabbit? The animals that will have a great year are those that are compatible with the Rabbit—namely, the Sheep, Dog and Pig. Each of these animals will see a wealth of opportunities for growth in their careers, relationships or creative passions.

Which signs will have more difficulty in the Year of the Rabbit? Dragons, Snakes, Roosters and Rats—you will clash with the Rabbit energy this year but don’t fret. A little additional stress is nothing that can’t be overcome with some patience and perseverance.

Thanks to a new law passed in Korea late last year, all citizens are about to get a bit of luck this year and become a year or two younger. Koreans have traditionally added a year to their age on Lunar New Year’s Day but that will change this year.

Under the traditional system, babies were considered a year old on the day they were born, with a year added every New Year’s Day, which made their Korean age a year or two older than their “international age”. However, as of June 2023, this ancient (and often confusing) system will end, and Korea will follow the global standard where everyone ages on their personal birthday. Strange but true!

What is the Korean Zodiac or ddi?

The Korean zodiac is believed to have originated in China during the Han Dynasty over 2000 years ago. Many Asian cultures including Korea still use it today. Ddi refers to your zodiac animal based on the year you were born and it’s a big deal in Korea. A very common question you will hear among Koreans is ‘What’s your Ddi?’. When someone asks about your ddi, they are not only getting a sense of your personality as people in the West do with signs of the zodiac, but they may also be working out your age or making decisions about compatibility.

Though traditional superstitions are waning in Korea, many Koreans still consider the representative animal of each year when making choices in career, finance, and marriage.

One’s ddi is so important in Korean superstition that you will often see a bumper crop of babies born on years considered to be extra lucky such as 2019, which was the year of the golden pig. The Korean zodiac is also important in matchmaking as some animals are thought to be more compatible than others.

The 12 Animals of the Korean Zodiac
Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.

Each year of the Korean zodiac is defined by an animal and is repeated every twelve years. Every animal has specific characteristics, which are shared by people born in their year. But remember that the animals are based on the Lunar calendar, so if your birthday is in January of 1969 you are not a rooster but a monkey.

The order of the animals is said to be a result of a contest between the animals. When the gods wanted to decide which of them would be first, they had all the animals swim across a river to determine the order. The animals’ place would be decided by the order in which they reached the opposite bank. According to some legends about the Korean zodiac, the clever rat secretly jumped on the ox’s back and hitched a ride. But other stories have the ox generously agreeing to give the rat a ride. In both versions as they approached the shore, the rat jumped off the oxen’s head and earned himself first place, with the ox following in second.

Read More about Korean Zodiac

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