Woosoo - spring rains in Korea

우수 : 24 Jeolgi’s Woosoo

                                                    
The Korean Lunar Calendar incorporates seasonal divisions of 24 절기 (Jeolgi), or the “turning points of the season” which lasts for 15 days for each term. Jeolgi is seasonal cycle became a timetable for agriculture created by the ancient Koreans to help take care of crops at the right time throughout the year.

Today is February 19, 2014, which marks the day of “우수” or Woosoo on the 24 Jeolgi term. Woosoo is in-between Ipchun, “the beginning of spring” and Gyungchip, which is the season when frogs wake up from their winter sleep. 봄비 내리고 싹이 틈 (bom-bee nae-ri-go ssak-ee teum) or “spring rains fall and the buds break in” is a saying for the Woosoo term which means that the spring rains on Wosoo encourages the plants to start growing again.

우수 뒤에 얼음같이 (woosoo dwee-ae uh-reum-gat-ee) or “Behind Woosoo is like Ice” is a proverb to describe Woosoo. This means that whatever is behind “Woosoo” will slowly start to melt even though it feels like it is freezing because of the spring frot. There is also another proverb “우수 경칩에 대동강 풀린다” (woosoo gyungchip-ae daedongkang pul-lean-da) means that after Woosoo and Gyungchip pass no matter how cold the weather may be, spring is coming and begin softening the ground for planting.