I said to a student, “Give me an example of something that’s easier said than done.’ His response, “It is easy to say I love you, but it is hard to make love.”
Now onto the lunar new year on 14 February. Historically and traditionally, Korea has followed the lunar calendar for important dates and recording births. This is, obviously, governed by the moon’s cycles and is consequently shorter than our solar calendar. Many Asian countries do this, as well as most countries whose main source of trade is agriculture! Yes, dear people, agriculture relies heavily on the moon’s cycles to know when to plant, reap and let fields lie fallow. (Anyway, you can google this if you’re really interested!) What I want to talk about is the way Koreas celebrate the lunar new year, or SolNal as they call it.
First off, and probably most importantly in this day and age, Koreans look forward to SolNal as a holiday. Except of course if you are a daughter-in-law, specifically married to the first or only son, because that then means you have the distinct and highly unenviable task of cooking for your family-in-law over the three-day period. And as with all Korean celebratory holidays, there is a lot of food to be prepared! Think I am exaggerating? I will post a picture of my friend’s dining table next week, taken after all the food has finally been prepared and presented.
So, if the women are cooking, what are the men doing, you may be asking? They are paying respect to their ancestors. This is typically done at the graves or tombs of the family member and requires the men to bow three or more times. However, families often hold the entire ceremony at home these days, so the men retire to a separate room and bow there.
Once this is done, everyone comes together and begins the delicious task of eating all the food that has been prepared. Most importantly, everyone has to eat TeokKuk, which is soup containing R5-sized flat rice cakes. Once you eat this, you turn a year older – and in Korea when you are born you are already one year old. This means on Sunday, when I have my soup I will be turning 35! I shudder at the thought.
For young, unmarried Koreans this moment is pure hell, because once they turn 30 the family will continuously pressurise them to get married. My unmarried Korean friends tell me hilarious stories (I think it’s hilarious, they don’t) of their mothers crying and fathers pleading for them to get married and stop bringing this shame upon them of being ‘old and unmarried’.
One of the most beautiful aspects of this holiday is that Koreans wear their traditional dress, known as the hanbok. It is hardly worn by men anymore because of the intricate knots to tie up the pants. Except for the older generation, women are also wearing the hanbok less and less as it is not convenient to cook and work in. This is sad really, as it is such a beautiful traditional costume. Most kids wear their hanbok though, and this is really cute!
SolNal is also characterised by the modern day calamities which befall all holiday seasons – traffic and gifts! Most Koreans try get to their hometowns for the rather short holiday, and in this small country it means that the roads are jam-packed over this period with trips that usually take four or five hours, taking up to 10 or 11! Buying the perfect gift is also critical, so the stores abound at this time with pre-prepared gift packs of fruit, spam, toiletries and more, as well as rice cakes. During the celebrations, married couples are expected to give their parents money and all relatives usually give the younger (unmarried) generation some money too. Many parents hope to recoup the money they spend from the money their kids receive!
All in all, this is a special holiday and I am looking forward to it!
