KALEIDOSCOPIC VIEW OF KOREAN FESTIVALS

Anuja Vijayan, Kolkata, West Bengal

South Korea is a fascinating country with plenty of reasons for celebrations, whether it’s about food, nature, historic events, or the changing seasons. Beautiful displays, major ceremonies, and traditional dressing up are all part of their celebrations. Aside from its great addicting K-Pop melodies, K-Drama series, movies, and delectable foods, South Korea has one more element that it does without a doubt: festivals!

Festivals in South Korea are more than just a way to have fun and relax; they are also an opportunity to immerse oneself in or learn more about Korean culture. Festivals take place all over the year; here are a handful of the most popular ones in Korea.

Seollal

In South Korea, people follow the lunar calendar. Seollal is known as the Korean New Year, which is a three-day celebration usually celebrated with family in January/February depending on the lunar calendar. The young ones pay respect to the elders through sebae (bowing down to the elders) and by greeting “saehae-bok mani badeuseyo” (may you have a lot of fortune in the new year). Seolbim (a new set of hanbok) is worn by people during this celebration. A delicacy that is served is rice cake soup, jeon or buchimgae, japchae, galbi-jjim, sikhye, sujeonggwa. Various traditional games are played like yutnori (board game), jaegichagi,paengi, or flying kites.

_{Picture Credits: @koreanet_official (Instagram)}

Jeju Fire Festival

A fire festival that represents Jeju’s livestock culture is held on Jeju Island on the first full moon day after the Lunar New Year for three days each year. It is a ritual to pray for good health and a good harvest. It begins with the offering for good harvests and later continues with parades, various competitions, and fun games. To ward off misfortune and bring in good luck, stacks of twigs and straws (daljip) are burned. Foods and drinks like Boerum (nut), cheongju (beverage), ogok-bap (multigrain rice), etc. are consumed. 

_{Picture Credits: VISITKOREA}

Hansik

It is also known as a cold food festival. 105 days following the winter solstice, the Hansik Festival is held. On this occasion, all foods that are not cooked on fire are served. On this day sacrificial rites are performed at Jongmyo which is a Royal Shrine and Neungwon. People organize memorial offerings and visit their ancestral graves to offer prayers. During the visit grave area is cleaned and new bushes are planted (Gaesacho) around the grave. At the same time, this marks the beginning of the farming season. 

_{Picture Credits: Korea JoongAng Daily}

Chopail 

Chopail, or Buddha’s Birthday, is one of the most joyful and highly celebrated occasions on the eighth day of the fourth month. Traditionally, families make lanterns equal to the number of family members before the day arrives. The lanterns are then lit and hung outside their homes. The presence of diverse and brightly coloured lanterns, particularly lotus lanterns, is one of the day’s most noticeable elements it also. Rituals, prayers, and other events are held in temples on this day. Buddhists eat a variety of foods, including Tteok (rice cakes), dumplings, fish cakes, and other delicacies.

_{Picture Credits: @koreanet_official (Instagram)}

Dano

The Dano Festival is held in the springtime when farmers begin to plough their fields. Women wash their hair with special water mixed with Changpo (type of iris leaves) on this day. Men, on the other hand, carry iris roots, which are said to ward off evil spirits. As the weather warms, individuals begin to give fans to friends and neighbours to help them beat the heat. Ssireum (Korean wrestling bout), swing, and other traditional activities are played. This event, of course, includes merriment, eating (surichitteok, ssuktteok, etc.), and drinking.

_{Picture Credits: @seoulcity (Instagram)}

Chuseok

It is a mid-autumn Festival also known as Korean Thanksgiving. It is one of the most important and longest festivals in Korea which is celebrated during the full moon on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month. As a celebration, people visit their ancestral home and enjoy Korean traditional feasts including song-pyeon, sindoju, and dongdongju. A few important traditions are followed on this day like Charye (memorial services for ancestors) and visiting graves (Seongmyo) to tidy the places and offer prayers. Villagers dress up as cows or turtles and parade from house to house, accompanied by a nongak band playing music and many more folk games like Hwatu, Taekkyon (traditional martial arts), etc. are played on Chuseok.

_{Picture Credits: Asiancustoms.eu}

Jinju Lantern Festival 

It is one of the oldest and most beautiful festivals in Korea which is celebrated in October. This exhibits Korean traditions and cultures. People light thousands of red lanterns on the banks of the Nam River to pray for peace, health, and prosperity for their loved ones. They can float, hang, or make their lanterns with their wish written on them. This lantern pays homage to the veterans of the Battle of Jinjuseong (1952). One can also see street parades, performances, and food from local restaurants with countless surreal views of lights, handcrafted decorations, furniture, firework displays, etc. along the riverbed.

With its rich culture, history, and beautiful landscapes, South Korea has a lot to offer. Globalization has helped the country to attract a lot of visitors to enjoy these festivals. Each festival encompasses a wide range of genres, which cater to different interests, but there is always something for people of all ages to enjoy.

Do let us know in the comment section which Korean Festival are you looking forward to experiencing yourself!