What to gift on Korean Cultural Ceremony's

What to gift on Korean Cultural Ceremony's

Buying gifts in any part of the world is always hard. Luckily, you don’t have to think too much when you’re in Korea. Korean culture will tell you what presents to buy for Korean weddings, house warmings, birthdays, and traditional Korean holidays. These traditional Korean gifts will impress your friends and family, and also make them happy.

**Gifts for Korean Weddings**

Just like most countries in Asia, when you go to a wedding in Korea, cash is the expected gift.Traditionally, gifts for Korean weddings are not of even numbers. Cash gifts for Korean newly weds typically come in odd numbers (30,000, 50,000, 70,000 won) as odd numbers represent good luck. The whole odd/even thing don’t matter so much once you reach a nice round number of 100,000 won!

축의금 (Chukuigeum) – Congratulatory money 




**Korean House Warming Gifts** 

Housewarmings in Korea, called jibdeuli (집들이), are nice fun little gatherings with friends, family, food and of course gifts. The traditional gifts to bring to housewarmings in Korea are rolls of toilet paper and laundry detergent. Back in the day when Korea was pretty dang poor, toilet paper and detergent were pricy items that not every household could afford. In addition to that, the bubbles produced by the detergent and the length of the sheets of toilet paper represented prosperity. This is a bit old school though. Some chic and trendy Korean peeps might like a bottle of wine instead.

**First Birthday Party Gifts** 

Baby’s first birthday party, called doljanchi.Although these days, parents are totally cool if you bring clothes or toys for their kid, the traditional gift for a baby’s first birthday party in Korea are tiny cute baby gold rings for cute little baby fingers. If you’re fashion savvy, gold anything would be extremely appreciated.if you can’t afford the bling, just go with cash.
(금반지 Gold Ring)

**Seollal and Chuseok Gifts **

Seollal (설날) is the lunar new year.

On Seollal lots of people drink alcohol to bring in the good luck (called 음복술/eumboksul). Although it’s not necessarily a traditional gift, your Korean hosts would appreciate some traditional Korean alcohols.

Chuseok (추석) is the celebration of the harvest. So the old school Korean gift to give is good food! Fruit is a common gift, but we aiin’t talking no 1,000 won apples off a back of a truck here. Get the big box of Korean pears or the mega apples. If you want to get them beef, Korean hanu (한우) beef is a common gift.

Gyeongchip : Day of Awakening from Hibernation

[경칩 /Gyeongchip : Day of Awakening from Hibernation]
Today, March 6th is Gyeongchip, the day that Koreans believe frogs awaken from their winter sleep. Also, known as “Day of Awakening from Hibernation” and is the 3rd out of the 24 solar terms in the Jeolgi Calendar. Gyeongchip is on the 74th day after the winter solstice, when the sun is at the ecliptic longitude of 345 degrees and indicates the start of spring.

The two characters “gyeong” and “chip” mean “surprise” and “hiding,” referring to the term of the time of year when the frogs, snakes, and insects begin singing, chirping, and peeping again. The “hiding” refers to the fact that the insects hide in the ground throughout the winter, and the “surprise” comes from the traditional idea that the first thunder of the year peals on this day and the insects come out from the ground in surprise at the noise.

A custom associated with Gyeongchip was hunting for frog or salamander eggs in rice paddy fields, ponds, and ditches. There was a belief that consuming those eggs would keep one healthy throughout the year. Gyeongchip was also considered a day on which all work associated with dirt could be done successfully so people repaired walls in their mud-plastered houses or built mud fences, even if there was no real need to do so, as this repair work was believed to eliminate bedbugs from the house. 

On Gyeongchip Koreans also tried to predict the success of farming in the year ahead by looking at how well barley had germinated by this day.Another related custom was drinking sap from the trunks of maple trees as this was believed to have healing benefits for gastric disorders and intestinal diseases. The maple sap had to be collected on a clear day because, according to a popular belief, cloudy or windy weather would spoil the positive energy of this day. Past Gyeongchip, the amount of sap available in a maple tree dwindles sharply and the sap was thought to lose its healing quality. Therefore it was critical to collect the sap on the day of Gyeongchip.

Korean Traditional Table Settings

                                         Korean Traditional Table Settings

The most basic table setting of a traditional Korean Food table is called space development table. This setting is where all the food is placed on top of the table all at once. According to the staple food, a table can be divided into many different groups. bansang, is a table consisting mainly of rice and side dishes, juksang, is a table composed of soups, myunsang, is a table with noodles, jooansang, is a table designed especially to drink alcohol with appetizer, dagwasang, which is a table for deserts, and gyojasang, which is a very large table for dining.

1-Bansang Table Setting
Bansang is the most basic table setting of Korean Food. It is mainly composed of rice and the side dishes are placed according to the recipes, ingredients, color, temperature, and other factors. There are also different types of bansang, according to how many plates, or ‘cheop’ in korean, are placed on the table. There can be a 3 cheop-bansang, 5 cheop-bansang, 7 cheop-bansang, 9 cheop-bansang, and 12 cheop-bansang.

                         

2-Juksang Table Setting
Juksang is when the staple food is soups. This table setting should consist of side dishes which are not spicy or salty. Nabak kimchi (radish water kimchi), small slices of dried pollack, and Jeotguk jjigae (salted-fish soup) would be good side dishes to place on a juksang.



                             

3-Myungsang Table Setting
Noodles, tteokguk, mandu are the staple foods for this table setting. It is used when eating simple lunch or dinner.
   
                               


4-Jooansang Table Setting
This table setting is placed to serve alcohol. Yuk po, Uh po, and other dry snacks, such as:　jeon, pyeonyuk, jjim, jeongol, saengchae, kimchi, fruits, tteok, and Korean biscuits.

5-Dagwasang Table Setting

       

This table setting is used when drinking tea or other beverages. Side dishes such as : yumil, yugwa, dasik (a patterned candy made of sesame, chestnut, greenpea flour, and honey), suksilgwa (stewed fruits), and fruits.

6-Gyojsang Table Setting

This table setting is done during traditional holidays, when there are a lot of people that have to eat.

Korean Spring Festivals You Shouldn’t Miss!

                                           Korean Spring Festival's You Shouldn't Miss !
         
                         

Spring is coming! Spring is coming! As the end of winter approaches and people across Korea start to shed their many warm layers in favor of lighter brightly colored pieces of clothing, the streets start to fill up with everyone who had hidden away and the search begins for outdoor events to enjoy. There are certainly plenty of things to see from flowers blooming to miraculous seas parting. Where will you go this spring?

                    Gurye Sansuyu Festival 구례산수유축제                                                                                    MARCH 22, 2014 – MARCH 30, 2014
           

The beautiful yellow Sansuyu, or Japanese Dogwood, flowers blanket the Jirisan mountain range and visitors to the area in the spring can partake in sansuyu makkoli tasting while watching traditional dances, rites and musical performances. If Gurye is a bit too far for you, there is a smaller, but no less fun,Sansuyu Festival. Try some sansuyu pancakes, makkoli and soup and play some traditional Korean games with a beautiful yellow backdrop.

           Jindo Miracle Sea Road 진도 신비의 바닷 축제                                  MARCH 30, 2014 – APRIL 2, 2014
                 
This is not the festival for those looking for an easy weekend getaway but for those that choose the trek, it is definitely worth it. Set down in the southwest corner of the country, Jindo offers up a spectacular event centered on what some call a miracle akin to the Moses sea parting. The waves part and on the muddy road that connects the mainland to an island 2.8 kilometers off the coast spectators don thigh high galoshes and head out to scrounge for shellfish, find star fish and just enjoy the generally awesome event. Concerts and good eats on the shore keep visitors busy while the path is wet.

                    Cherry Blossom Festivals  

              

Spring would not be complete without cherry blossom festivals and there is sure to be one near you. Here are just a few, find the nearest one near you! but expect to see these flowers blooming in April.

1. 

Jinhae Gunhangje Festival : (April 1, 2014 – April 10, 2014): This is the largest cherry blossom festival in the country and not only celebrates the blossoming of spring but also celebrates the Admiral Yi Sun Shin.

2. Hwagae Cherry Blossom Festival : ‘The 10ri Cherry Blossom Road’ is the draw for this festival. 10 ri equals approximately 4.5 kilometers of cherry blossoms to enjoy and it is said if lovers walk down this road holding hands they will live happily together forever.

3. Gyeongpo Cherry Blossom Festival : Gyeongpo has a 4.3 kilometer long walk around a gorgeous lake that is lined with cherry blossoms and that’s not the only thing worth a visit, the beach that sits just beyond the lake is gorgeous as well. There are various cultural events and flower exhibitions

4. Hangang Yeouido Spring Flower Festival : If you have no time to get out of the city, a popular place to head to welcome the spring with cherry blossom festivals is Yeouido. Around 1,500 cherry blossom trees bloom and the roads are blocked to traffic to allow visitors full access. An added bonus is that these flowers are lit up at night, so enjoy the flowers from day into night this spring.

                           Nonsan Strawberry Festival 논산딸기축제

                                                        APRIL 2, 2014 – APRIL 6, 2014

Who doesn’t like filling their bellies with delicious strawberries? The Nonsan Strawberry festival is the place to do that and more. Sculptures of strawberries and strawberry displays greet visitors to fair grounds where they can buy strawberry jams, strawberry hot sauce, strawberry pancakes and many more delicious strawberry delicacies as well as partake in mask making, painting and more, but the highlight by far is hopping aboard one of the shuttle buses and heading out to the strawberry fields where you can pick and eat strawberries to your bellies content.

                                   Gijisi Juldarigi Festival 기지시 줄다리기축제

                                                   

Have you ever wanted to participate ina massive tug-of-war? If your answer is yes then you should head to Dangjin this spring. From February 1st of the Lunar calendar the rope for the festivities begins to be spun from straw. The main rope measures in at 200 meters in length and 1.8cm in diameter and weighs up to 40 tons. When I said massive, I meant it! Anyone can take part in this festival that wishes for a good harvest and prosperity

                            Gwangalli Eobang Festival 광안리 어방축제

                                                      

                                                   

Not that you need an excuse to head down to Busan, but if you want a fun festival while you’re there, here’s one. The Gwangalli Eobang Festival celebrates the coming of spring and the ocean with bare-hand fishing, cooking contests and lots of good food to eat. Be sure to visit the nearby fish market where you can choose your own fish to eat for dinner and then head back to the beach to watch the bridges light up the night sky.

                                      Chuncheon International Mime Festival
                                                           춘천 국제마임축제

                                         
This festival that takes place just a hop, skip and a jump outside of Seoul is eight days of performances by Korean and international teams. There is not only miming, but also music, dance, installation art and short films for the enjoying pleasure of visitors. This festival is the perfect way to head into the summer music and art festival fun that is sure to come.

                                     So Which Festival You Would Like to Enjoy !!

Table Manners in Korea Culture

                                                   Table Manners in Korea Culture
                                                                                                                                                                                            

 Table Manners in Korea Culture means respecting the elderly & Cherishing the food served !

The following information on table manners is from an excerpt of a document, written in the 1700s, by Lee Duk Moo. Table manners are divide into three parts: before eating, during eating, and after eating.

It is best to consume the foo, immediately after it is presented. This is because the food can lose its heat and cool down. Also, dust can rest on the food if it is not eaten right away. Thus, even if you are busy, try to consume the food right away. There is a Korean saying that expresses the fact that you do not eat your food right away. It is ‘your soft-boiled bap is made for you.’ Also, a table where the food is not consumed immediately is called a “table without incense.” You should also never let someone wait for you before eating.

Even if you are angry, you should never thump your spoon or chopsticks on the table. You should not sigh, while eating. Also, even if the rice or soup is hot, you should never blow on it. Never beat your chopsticks on the table and the spoon should not make any sound when it touches a plate.

Once you are done eating, you must organize your spoon and chopsticks so that they do not go over the boundaries of the table. This is done to prevent the falling of the spoon and chopsticks, when taking the table away. You should always keep in hand a toothpick, to take out the food that is stuck between your teeth. This can also prevent bad smell from your mouth.

                                              *************Happy Eating *************

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.

                                  

Geum Dong Bul Gam : Golden Miniature Shrine

                                         Geum Dong Bul Gam : Golden Miniature Shrine

                                                                           

“불감” or Bulgam is a miniature shrine built after the image of a Buddhist temple to keep this statue. The Bulgam provides important materials in studying the style of the Buddha placed in it as well as the architectural style of the period. The shrine and the Buddha are made in bronze and painted with gold. Found inside the shrine are the principal image of Buddha and two statues of Bodhisattva on a rectangular platform encircled by handrails.

                               

The large windows on both sides and in the front of the roof of the shrine was designed so Buddha can be seen clearly from the outside. The expression on the face of the principal Buddha is not sophisticated; simple lines depict the pleats on his clothing huddled on both shoulders. The halo on the back of his body is divided into the head and the body and are decorated with a flame design around their edges. The two statues of Bodhisattva are wearing a crown decorated with glass beads, the style and technique of expression are the same as those used for the principal Buddha.

The “금” or gold color of the shrine shines bright even today. The greenish blue roof still remains intact. The shrine has been kept in a good condition overall. The long back of the principal Buddha, irregular pleats on the clothing, and Bodhisattva's crowns decorated with glass beads imply that it is produced between the 11th and 12th century when Korean art was influenced by culture from northern China. This is a valuable material showing the architectural style and engraving technique of the Goryeo Dynasty and of the preceding period.

Jeongwol Daeboreum : Great Full Moon

                                                   Jeongwol Daeboreum : Great Full Moon

Today(i.e 14th Feb.) is the 2014 Lunar New Year’s First Moon or Jeongwol Daeboreum (marked the 15th day on the Lunar Calendar). Today is a very important day in Korea, accompanied by many traditional rituals to rid of misfortune and to wish for good luck.

                                 

A familiar “Great Full Moon” custom is to crack nuts with one's teeth as it was believed that this practice will help keep one's teeth healthy for the year. In the countryside, Koreans would climb mountains, and fight against the frigid winter weather just to catch the first site of the moon-rise. There is an old saying that the first person to see the moon rise will have good luck all year or a wish will be granted.

                                 

Koreans also play a traditional game called Geuybulnori, the night before Daeboreum. They burn the dry grass on ridges between rice fields, while children twirl around cans full of holes is blazing with charcoal fire. These cans are filled with fertilizer from the fields and to help get rid of the harmful worms that destroyed the new crops. There are also many more activities and customs celebrated throughout the night. 

                                 
                                                                           
On the morning of Daeboreum, Ogokbap , a five-"grain" rice consisting of rice, millet, Indian millet, beans, and red beans is served for breakfast. This is eaten with various dried herbs. Yaksik is a rice cake dessert consumed on this day. It is made of glutinous rice, chestnuts, pine nuts, honey, sauce, and sesame oil. 

                 Happy Valentine's Day Or White Day to all buzz KOREA Staff,Members & Fans Enjoy your Day !
                                       

Seollal : Korean Lunar New Years Day

                                                     
                         
                                           설날/Seollal :Korean Lunar New Years Day

                                Happy Seollal to All buzz KOREA Staff,Members & Fans !!

              Seollal is Korean for Lunar New Years, the first day of the year in the lunar calendar.

This year Seollal falls on today, January 31, 2014. During the New Year’s holiday season; Koreans go back to their hometowns to visit their elders, relatives, and honor ancestors to wish them a Happy New Year or
새해 복 많이 받으세요 (Sae hae bok man hee bad eu sae yo). 

Traditionally, Koreans would wear hanboks and perform ancestral rites, play folk games, eat traditional food, listen to folk stories, and just catch up with their loved ones. As a New Years Day ritual, the younger generation will do “Sae Bae” which is a deep bow to the floor in front of elders especially grandparents, as a sign of paying respect. Seh bae is also given to the deceased ancestors with food and drink offerings, also known as “Charae.” Depending on how traditional a family is, seh bae may just be done by children to the grownups starting with bows to the oldest living generation. In return, children receive envelopes of money and words of wisdom for the New Year.

After seh bae, the traditional New Year's meal is ddukguk (ricecake soup) must be consumed to grow one year older. Adults tell their children that they can't get older unless they've eaten their bowl of ddukgook. Koreans usually spend their New Year’s playing traditional outdoor games like kite flying or noltigi, Korean board games like yutnori (stick-tossing board game), singing songs, and going to festivals. It is a time to relax and enjoy a brand new start with the ones you love. 

Hahoe Village’s Mask Dance Performance

                       

[세계유산 안동 하회 마을 : Hahoe Village’s Mask Dance Performance]

As the Nakdonggang river winds its way through North Gyeongsang Province nestled in one of its curves is a picturesque place called Andong Hahoe Folk Village. Designated “Important Folklore Material No. 122” by the Korean government, Andong Hahoe Folk Village is where members of the Pungsan Ryu family have lived for many generations. “Hahoe” means winding river, and the scenic combination of the river and Taebaeksan mountains mean the village is located in an auspicious location. Some say Andong Hahoe Folk Village is like a lotus floating on the water.

The Hahoe Mask Dance Drama Performance (Hahoe Byeolsingut Exorcism) has been performed for centuries as a village ritual intended to please the local goddess and exorcise evil spirits. The village prayed for an abundant harvest, peace and prosperity, and self-enjoyment performing the play. 

                                   

In an agricultural society a good harvest was considered to be the key factor of the village’s survival and the villages performed a sacrificial rite to pray to the heavens for an ever-lasting and bountiful harvest. As an act of prayer, the mask dance is made up of 10 episodes with a satirical story of former nobleman.

                                                                                            

There is an old saying that if you did not have a chance to watch the mask dance performed in your lifetime, you would not be able to enter heaven’s doors. Like most folk mask dances handed down in rural communities across Korea, Hahoe Pyolshin-Gut T'al-Nori features various allegorical characters, such as Yangban (an arrogant aristocrat), Sonbi (a pedantic scholar), Chung (a depraved Buddhist monk), Imae (a foolish servant), Paekchong (a coarse butcher) and more. Each character represents a social class and shows the conflicts amongst the different classes and satirizes the social tensions among the families in the village.


                                                                               

The Hahoe Village not only features the Mask Dance Performances but also the Andong Soju Museum that is open everyday and provides group tours to make and sample soju. Visitors can also experience making Hanji (Korean Paper) at the corner of the village and more.

Performance Dates : Wednesdays & Weekends from 14:00-15:00 PM