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Myungjul in South Korea by Ji-Eun Kim SOL-NAL (NEW YEAR'S DAY)Sol-nal is the first day of the lunar new year which is a very special day not only because it is the first day of the lunar calendar, but because it is also the greatest celebration in Korea. On this day, all family members dress in their new clothes, symbolizing good fortune. This tradition is also believed to ward off evil spirits while gathering together at Keunjip, the home of the eldest male, to celebrate the new year to come. As soon as everyone gathers, they hold Charye, a solemn ancestral memorial. After Charye, the youngest members of the family bow to the eldest of the family and then the following eldest, and so forth. At each bow, they wish to one another good health and good fortune in the coming year. Ttokkuk, a rice cake soup, is the most popular food that is consumed on Sol-nal and Koreans believe that eating Ttokkuk adds one year of age. In fact, Korean age is calculated at the New Year. Everyone becomes a year older on New Year's Day! In addition, yut nori - a stick game, kite flying and nulttwigi, a jumping see-sawing game are the favorite games at Sol-nal.
TAEBOREUM (THE FIRST FULL MOON) Taeboreum marks the first full moon of the year which is the 15th day of the first lunar month. In traditional Korea, Taeboreum was very important not only because it is the day of the first full moon, but also because it signifies the start of the agricultural season. There exist many traditions on Taeboreum such as Bourumkkagi and Kwibarki sul. On this morning, Korean wake up early and eat nuts. They believe that hard foods help to strengthen the teeth and also it help prevent Bousrum, a skin disease resulting in the formation of the word Bourumkkaki. Drinking a cup of cold wine describes the meaning of Kwibarki sul in plain English an ear-sharpening wine. The thought behind this is that the wine clears the ears and thus, enabling the Koreans to hear good news. Actually, the observing the moon is another event in itself. Koreans believed that if they pray for their wishes for the upcoming year upon seeing the full moon, their wishes will be fulfilled.
Tano is one of Korea's oldest holidays. Tano is the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, also called Souritnal where Souri means a cart. In ancient Korea, a cart was an important equipment for the agriculture in order to make the special rice cakes which are shaped of cart wheels and cooked with fragrant mugwot leaves which signify a magical power. These cakes are placed in front of the door to ward off evil spirits. Most Tano events take place outside. There is a very special event on Tano day which is washing hair in water boiled with fragrant flowers that produces a special shine and healthy hair. They also believed that this can drive out the evil spirits and diseases. Women gather to swing on long rope swings. Usually, there is a competition in each village for girls. Men often participate in Ssireum, Korea's indigenous wrestling, which has become popular from generation to generation.
Chusok is the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, the harvest full moon festival, which is the second largest festival in Korea. Chusok is also called Han gah wee which means the great day in the middle of the eighth month. The beginning of the day, they hold Charye, solemn ancestral memorial, in which all the newly harvested food is prepared and offered to their own ancestor. Following Charye, Koreans visit the graves of their ancestors to bow and clean the area for the coming winter. Chusok takes place during the harvest season, allowing for an abundance of vegetables, fruits and cereals. Shongpyun is the most favorite dish for Chusok. Shongpyun is a crescent-shaped rice cakes stuffed with sesame seeds, chestnut past or beans. On Chusok day, there're several community activities, such as a game called turtletag, talchum - masked dance, singing Korean folk music and so on. However, Kanggangsouwollae, an ancient circle dance, is the most popular ceremony. Kangangsouwollae consists of ten to twenty women gathering together and forming a circle while singing songs in the night of Chusok.
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