Abstract
The Korean fortune-telling tradition, Doljabi (돌잡이), takes place on the first birthday of a child which is known as Doljanchi (돌잔치). The first birthday was an important milestone in Korean history since infant mortality was exceedingly common. Therefore the celebration and the fortune telling ritual became an important tradition that was passed on for centuries. Because Korean culture has shamanic roots, Doljabi was a way for Koreans to bless and predict the destiny of a child. This would be done by presenting the infant with an assortment of symbolic items, traditionally 6-9 items, that represented blessings and possible professions. Therefore, whichever item the baby selects would determine their fate. Doljabi reflects the cultural folklore and customs of Korea and is a tradition that is still performed today.
Doljabi (돌잡이)