About Korea culture: May 17, 2010 - Celebration of the first 100 days/백일/ baek-il In pre-modern Korea, high rates of infant mortality due to disease and poor medical conditions made the first 100 days of a baby’s life the most dangerous. A child who survived past the first 100 days was celebrated. - The first year birthday/돌잔치/ dol janchi The first birthday of a child is called dol. The highlight of the dol is when the child symbolically foretells his or her own future. The child is seated before a table of various foods and objects such as thread, books, notebooks, brushes, ink and money which have all been given to the family by friends and relatives. The child is urged to pick up an object from the table, as it is believed the one selected first will foretell the child's future. If the child picks up a writing brush or book, for example, he is destined to be a scholar. If he picks up money or rice, he will be wealthy; cakes or other food, a government official; a sword or bow, a military commander. If the child picks up the thread, it is believed he will live a long life. This is followed by feasting, singing and playing with the toddler. Most often guests will present gifts of money, clothes, or gold rings to the parents for the child at this time.