Simon's Tol

In Korea, a child's first birthday is a BIG deal. Historically, because of health issues and medical care, many children did not live beyond their first birthday; so, when a child did live to be a year old, it was a big celebration. Nowadays, in South Korea, health care is about as good as it is here, so children get better health care and a child not living to his or her first birthday is not so much of a concern. However, the first birthday is still celebrated as a big deal and is called Tol. The child dresses up in a hanbok, a traditional Korean outfit still worn today for special occassions and a feast of Korean food is prepared. The parents set up a Toljabi where various items are set before the child and which item he or she picks up first supposedly predicts his or her future. There is also a traditional rice cake that is served for a first birthday.

Simon actually turned one on December 15, but we decided to put off his Tol celebration until around Christmas when we knew more people would be around. And with little Olivia choosing to make her appearance the day before Simon's birthday, this turned out to be a VERY good decision. So we celebrated Simon's Tol on December 27 with Grandma and Grandpa as well as Auntie Karen, Uncle Ryan and baby Olivia. We made Galbi (a marinated and barbequed beef dish); Pork with Red Bean Paste; a Shrimp, Crab and Jellyfish salad; Mandu (Korean dumplings); smoky eggs; Spicy rice cakes; kimchi; pickled radish and various Rice cakes with red bean paste filling. We also had the traditional rainbow rick cake, which was very pretty, but not so tasty.

For the Toljabi we put out some traditional items - Korean money (wealth and prosperity); a ball of string (long and healthy life); a ruler (being good with ones hands); a pen (a scholar); rice (wealth and prosperity); a paint brush (artistic). Joel added a hockey puck - for obvious reasons and Jen added a camera - also for obvious reasons. Simon picked up the money first and the hockey puck second (as you can imagine, Joel was more than thrilled!). So Simon will be a wealthy and prosperous hockey player :-) Could be worse, I suppose :-)

Some photos....

Simon and Anna in their Hanboks


All of us


The table set up for the Toljabi


The money


The hockey puck


Simon at the table


The food


The presents.....

The bigger the car, the better :-)


He had the most fun with the ribbon


Something to bounce on


And, it tastes good too :-)