In Korean tradition, the celebration marking a child’s first birthday is called Doljanchi.
The name combines dol, meaning a birthday milestone, with janchi, meaning a feast or banquet. Historically, reaching the first birthday was especially meaningful because disease and poor nutrition made early childhood survival less certain.
A central custom is doljabi, in which the child chooses one object from a selection of items. Traditionally, the chosen object was interpreted as a playful prediction of the child’s future, such as scholarship, wealth, or a profession. Modern families often update the objects to reflect contemporary careers.
Doljanchi is distinct from Baek-il, the 100-day celebration. The two events are sometimes confused because both commemorate early childhood milestones, but they occur at different ages.