CHILD'S FIRST BIRTHDAY(TOL)

Until recent times, the death rate for children in Korea was extremely high. Many children died very young, not even surviving the first year of life. Those who lived to see their first birthday generally survived past childhood. As a result, the first birthday marked a major milestone in a child's life. The ceremony of the Tol celebrates the child's life with praying for longevity, preparation of special food to be shared with family members and neighbors, and a special event which is supposed to foretell the child's future.