Life is a different Wave moving by Time and ending at Shore: 4th Traditional Holidays in Korea

There are many cases odd number duplicating each other at traditional holidays in Chinese Letter cultural based countries like Jan 1^st, Mar 3^rd, May 5^th, Jul 7^thand Sept. 9th. When we set up a traditional full Moon holidays, we selected Jan, Jun, Jul, Aug and Oct. These traditional holidays are different from seasonal days which come every 15 days. But all other traditional holidays have been losing popularity than two holidays, Lunar New Year (Jan 1^st in Lunar Calendar) and Full Moon Holidays in Aug. We believe these situations have been in relation with transition from farming society to industrial society. Please find followings are all traditional holidays in Korea.

· Saehae Seolnal (Lunar New Year) : Jan 1^st in Lunar Calendar

· Daeborum (Jan Full Moon) : Jan 15^th in Lunar Calendar

· Yeongdeung Day : Feb 1^st in Lunar Calendar.

· Sanjin Day : Mar 3^rd in in Lunar Calendar.

· Hanshik Day : 105 days from Donggi Day normally in Mar in lunar calendar

· Budahha Day : Apr 8^th in Lunar Calendar.

· Danoh Day : May 5ht in Lunar Calendar.

· Yoodu Day : Jun 15^th in Lunar Calendar.

· Chilsuk Day : Jul 7^th in Lunar Calendar.

· Baekjung Day : Jul 15^th in Lunar Calendar.

· Chooseok (Full Moon in Aug) : Aug 15^th in Lunar Calendar.

· Jungyangjeol Day (Odd Duplicating) : Sep 9^th in Lunar Calendar.

· Siwolborum (Full Moon in Oct) : Oct 15^th in Lunar Calendar.

· Dongi Day : Shortest day time in a year. One of 24 Seasonal days in Nov in Lunar Calendar.

· Seodal Geumum (End of Year) : Dec end in Lunar Calendar. We sometime call as Magpie New Year.

I would like now to select four major holidays out of above 14 seasonal holidays in Korea as below and explain about relevant customs or culture to each holidays. ,

1. • Saehae Seolnal (Lunar New Year) : Jan 1st in Lunar Calendar

Saehae Seolnal is one of 2^nd holidays in Korea along with Chooseok Holidays in Aug in Lunar Calendar. It is old traditional customs and culture that Koreans perform memorial service to their ancient and New Year greeting to their relatives. It is an old customs many Korean used to overnight without sleep since there is legend as anybody sleep at end of year and may turn their eyebrow suddenly turning white during sleeping day. They sometimes used to play Korea traditional Ply like Yutnori, Neoldueigi (Jumping on Seesaw), Yeonnaligi (kite flying), Bokjori Hanging and etc. Saehae Seolnal Holydays are three days in Koreas which is one day before the Seolnal and on the Seolnal and one day after the Seolnal.

Seolnal is calculated within 30 days after Donggi Day which shall not come before Jan 20 in Solar Calendar.

2. Danoh Day : May 5ht in Lunar Calendar

Danoh has been starting at King of Hee in Cho Dynasty in China as one assistant officer, Gulwon was slandered by the treacherous and jumped into Myeokrasura River for the demonstration his innocence and guiltless on May 5 in lunar calendar. Chinese served memorial ceremony to Gulwon every year this day, Danoh which has been transferred to Korea and still keeping as a Danoh Day.

There are old customs on Danoh Day like washing hairs with iris, mugwort pick, jujube graft, jumping on seesaw, arrow shooting and Korean wrestling.. This Danoh Day is on energetic seasonal in May which all life is getting start to become active and which people used to treat this holiday as one of major holiday in a year.

All people dressed new cloth on the Danoh Day regardless female or male or old or young and freely and very pleasantly enjoyed and played on the day and also prayed for successful harvest in fall season. All of these are related or created with farming society at old days. But all these customs and culture is presently not like that before and becomes fade time by time according to society change and modernization.

3. Chooseok (Full Moon in Aug) : Aug 15th in Lunar Calendar

Chooseok is one of important and great traditional holy day in an year in Korea along with Saehae Seolnal as stated above article 1 which is principally linked with farming society old days.

It was original customs Korean prayed memorial service and thanks for successful harvest to their ancients with newly harvested fruit and rice cake preparing with newly harvested rice just before the harvest finishing. They used to go to their ancient grave together with many relatives and exchanged latest news about around relatives. It is known as seventy five percent Koreans have visited to their hometown or parent or relatives on the Chooseok Holiday which cause severe and extraordinarily traffic jam on the road and no seats on all public transportation like air plane or train or bus on Chooseok Holidays. That is why we used to call this movement as Korean Exodos.

Chooseok has been appointed 73 days after Hagi Day, longest day time in a year which is official holidays for three days, one before Chooseok, on Chooseok Day and one day after Chooseok. This Chooseok is normally in Oct which may connected to other national holidays like Gaecheonjeol on Oct 3rd (National Foundation Day) and Hangeulnal on Oct 9^th (Korea Letter Proclamation Day). Exceptional long holidays like maximum 10 days are sometimes appeared in case all these holidays are in series.

There are old traditional folk plays on Chooseok like Neolduigi (Jumping on seesaw), Jegichagi (similar to hacky sack), Ganggangsullai (Traditional Korean Dancing for Harvest), Yutnori (traditional Korean board game) and Ssireum (traditional Korean Wrestling)

It is the most important event every home should first of all pray for their ancient with newly harvesting grains and fruit and thanks for their help or assistance for successful harvest and lightly drink and enjoy all food together preparing for the pray.

4. Hanshik Day : 105 days from Donggi Day normally in Mar in lunar calendar

Hanshik Day is one of major four traditional holidays in Korea which is the day calculating 105 days after Donggi Day in previous year which means eating cold food and originally transferred from China customs.

People had to prepare all food before Hanshik Day and shall not use any heat for cooking or warming the food on Hanshik Day and eat and drink all food as cold as they are. There was customs which government in Koryeo and Joseon Dynasty in Korea has held great celebration feast and spring game with people. It was a great holiday in Koryeo Dynasty as government grant national holiday to the people and let them freely pray for their ancient. There is sometimes King’s amnesty for proper criminals on the day. But these customs have been fading time by time and just remaining as memorial service to their ancient graves

It is known as a memorial day for Gaechaju’s soul, sage and royal officer in Jin Dynasty in China. He was putting on false charge by treacherous and escaped to Myeonsan Mountain. But his innocence was later revealed and confirmed. Moongong, government high official paid a visit to see the Gaechaju at the mountain but failed to find him and therefore put the fire on the mountain for Gaechaju’s coming out. But Gaechaju never showed up and burning with mountain fire. Chinese government has been appointed this day as a memorial day for Gaechaju and declared Memorial Day eating cold food for taking care of poor Gaechaju’s soul.