Have you ever hear of seaweed soup? It is a delicious korean dish made specially on birthdays. As we have our cake tradition, Koreans enjoy a delicious breakfast with seaweed soup on their birthdays. Cake is also eaten on birthdays, but seaweed is more common. There are even times when friends say hi to each other on their birthdays by saying "Have you eaten seaweed soup?". Back in the day, expectant mothers ate seaweed soup one month before birthday, as it is high in iodine and calcium, and these are thought to be beneficial for milk production and uterine contraction. Koreans are very respectful towards their ancestors, this seaweed soup stands as a symbol to remind the child that his/her mother works very hard and to be grateful towards the mother for the care she gives to them. Western customs have influenced many koreans, as they give each other birthday cards and make cakes and put the candles according to the person's age.
A big difference between Korean and Western birthdays is that Korean age is based on the lunar calendar, while the western age is based on the solar calendar. Korean age is basically measured by year, not by the birthday, it adds 1 or 2 years to your age. In case you got confused, try this to calculate your korean age: (this year-your birthday)+1, for example (2014-1996)+1= 17. Big parties are usually made on the first birthday, the 60th and 70th birthday.
Since in past times food was scarce and many children died, if the child made it to the first birthday it was considered a blessing. People made feasts of delicious food like rice cakes to celebrate with the family and village. This tradition still continues, people make feasts usually at hotels or restaurants. A tradition which I think its funny but I respect, is the doljabi ritual. What happens here is that the child is placed in the front of a table, and he has to choose between a string, rice, money, or book, and people make predictions of his future according to this. Maybe I will try it when I have a child.
People share the food with friends, family, and neighbors as it is believed that if they share a lot, they will receive many things in return. A snack that is always present baekseolgi rice cake made with flour dough. Children many times even have their own photo shoot at different locations and with different clothes! Amazing isn't it?
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