My friend's baby's first birthday party.

  Last Saturday, November 21, was my friend's baby's first birthday party. She lives in Cheon-An, so I and one of my friends went to there to congratulate their family. Actually, she got marry to her husband so early than others; when she was 22, and her husband was only 20. They had a tough time to persuade their parents and manage their marriage life at first, but now they are happier than any other couples. We were glad to see the couple.

  As the place was too far for us, we had to take a train, but since it was weekend, there was no seats for us. So we were just standing during a long journey. However, there was a wonderful place for standees. It is called "train cafe". They made a cafe with one of the trains and decorated its interior like a real cafe. People can eat foods, drink coffee, enjoy games and get massages from massage machine. We were tired when we came back, so we sat down on the floor of the train. The heating system of the train was near to the floor, so we enjoyed our sauna :D

  Anyway, we arrived there on time. There were some events and special things for the guests. Since many Koreans throw a big party for their babies' first birthday, that kinds of events and the services are well developed in Korea.

  At first, we greeted each other and congratulated their family. And we wrote a message on the postcard which was made of the baby's picture. Here are her pictures.

  And then, we applied for "what things will Ye-Jin pick up?" It means that people guess what thing the baby pick up when she operate a 돌잡이, and put a coupon into each baskets according to their guessing. Each coupon has a number and each baskets has stuff's name . And later, the baby's mother or father pick up one coupon. It is a kind of a gamble. 돌잡이 is a traditional Korean custom. The parents prepare some stuffs―a pencil, a thread, a stethoscope, a code of laws, money, and etc. Each thing has its meaning like this. a pencil-to be intelligent, a thread-to live long, a stethoscope-to be a doctor, a code of laws-to be a lawyer(doctors and lawyers are best careers in Korea), money- to be rich. In these days, money is considered as a best choice, so many parents expect and encourage their babies to choose money.

  When 돌잡이 was started, the baby's father added microphone to be a celebrity. And the baby, according to the daddy's hope, she picked up a microphone~!


  It was a great time for us, but I felt that it wasn't a good party for the baby, because the baby got very tired. Their original purpose was to celebrate the baby's first birthday, but it made the baby feel more tired. Before beginning of 돌잡이, she fell asleep and we waited for about 20min, but at last we awakened her. We were very sorry....... So I made a decision that when I get my baby, I'll give a small party for my baby's first birthday party with only family members. First birthday party is a pleasure for grown-up people, but it is an annoying thing for the baby-!