February 7, 2008 on the solar calendar (the one we westerners use) marks the first day of the Lunar New Year, called Sol-Nal in Korea, and specifically, the Year Of The Rat. Sol- Nal traditions in Korea are focused around paying respects to the elders and ancestors of the family. I have read that Seoul becomes a ghost town during the festivities, as thousands of people pour out of it and other large cities in order to make the journey to their family's roots in the countryside.
The biggest holiday in Korea, the Lunar New Year is rung in with large family gatherings (married couples travel to the home of the husband's family), a thorough cleaning of one's home in order to rid it of any evil that lingers from the previous year, huge feast-like meals featuring dduk-gook (a soup made with oval rice cakes), and several traditional games. Kite flying is also traditional on the Lunar New Year, with older family members tying blades to the kite in order to attempt to cut the kite strings of their opponents.
As part of the celebration, families dress in their formal wear, known as hankbok. I dressed the kids in their hanbok yesterday for pictures so I could post them tonight, on New Year's Eve.
Harry attempts to tie his pouch around his head, while Emma practices her "so big" arm movements.
Their hanbok were gifts from each of their foster mothers in Korea. Harry's is getting to be too small, and we'll probably have to order him a new one before next year.
A real smile, instead of the usual pirate variety.
Wearing her more modern headpiece.
Harry is really interested in learning about Korea these days, and it has been fun to look things up for him to answer his questions, which are surprisingly astute for one so young. We're incorporating some of the Korean traditions for the Lunar New Year into our week, and I started with a thorough house cleaning. It seemed like a good idea, since it hadn't been done in, well, I don't want to admit that to you. If the weather stops being so crummy tomorrow we will venture out with our kite and test the winds, and tomorrow's dinner will involve bulgogi and kimchi if I can get it. We already had our dduk-gook, or at least a version of it I found in a cook book. It was tasty and both kids gobbled it up. I can't wait to do more cooking tomorrow!
Many blessings to your family in the new year!
Can we come over for dinner? :)
ReplyDeleteThe kids look great! Hope you had a wonderful New Year and that the celebrations were fun! :)
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