Bridging Culture in the News
Don Southerton, BC president was recently mentioned in the Montgomery Advertiser. The Alabama newspaper, like much of Montgomery, has taken an interest in Korean culture with the construction of the $1 billion Hyundai Motor Manufacturing plant. Here's an excerpt from the timely article by reporter Tiffany Ray:
New Year's celebrations are already a memory here in Montgomery, but in South Korea, Hyundai's headquarters, residents have a second round to look forward to.
In addition to celebrating the change of the calendar to 2005, South Korea also observes the lunar New Year, an older tradition common in many Asian countries.
In Seoul, South Korea's capital, residents ring in Jan. 1 literally. Don Southerton, president of Bridging Cultures, a California-based consulting business that focuses on U.S. and South Korean business relations, said an ancient bell in the city chimes 33 times -- a lucky number -- to herald the New Year.
The lunar New Year will arrive on Feb. 9. The holiday falls on a different day in January or February each year.
A family-focused holiday, So-nal, as its known in South Korea, has a lot more cultural significance, Southerton said. Eldest sons perform rituals honoring family ancestors, while children bow to their grandparents and often receive monetary gifts.
Southerton called the dual celebrations "a merger of old ways with new ways."
New Year's celebrations are already a memory here in Montgomery, but in South Korea, Hyundai's headquarters, residents have a second round to look forward to.
In addition to celebrating the change of the calendar to 2005, South Korea also observes the lunar New Year, an older tradition common in many Asian countries.
In Seoul, South Korea's capital, residents ring in Jan. 1 literally. Don Southerton, president of Bridging Cultures, a California-based consulting business that focuses on U.S. and South Korean business relations, said an ancient bell in the city chimes 33 times -- a lucky number -- to herald the New Year.
The lunar New Year will arrive on Feb. 9. The holiday falls on a different day in January or February each year.
A family-focused holiday, So-nal, as its known in South Korea, has a lot more cultural significance, Southerton said. Eldest sons perform rituals honoring family ancestors, while children bow to their grandparents and often receive monetary gifts.
Southerton called the dual celebrations "a merger of old ways with new ways."
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