Seoul Celebrates Daeborum Holiday

I enjoy the traditions of Korea,especially celebrations like Daeborum.

Seoul will celebrate Daeboreum, the first full moon of the lunar year, this Sunday (Feb. 19 in Korea, Monday in U.S. times zones) with a range of traditional folk events.

A village of traditional Korean-style houses in the middle of the capital holds events such as: displaying seasoned greens, which Koreans eat on that day; making ogokpap-boiled rice with five pulses such as red beans, kidney beans and millet- and sharing nuts traditionally eaten on the day to ward off boils; as well as games like seesawing and kite-flying.

Cheonggyecheon Plaza will see traditional Korean games such as tuho-throwing sticks into a barrel-and the local variety of shuttlecocks, which is played with the feet. Events include writing family precepts and releasing balloons carrying people's hopes. The Cheonggye Stream will also see the revival of a rite where people cross a bridge once for every year of their lives to guard against affliction in their legs. The event will be held at 5:30 p.m. on a 1 km section between Gwangtong Bridge and Mojeon Bridge. Ganggangsulae, a Korean circle dance, and fireworks will complete the event.


In celebration of Daeboreum, the first full moon of the lunar year, residents of Hampyeong county, South Jeolla Province play Jwibool-nori, a traditional game spinning a tin with a fire inside. (see photo)

Statues representing 10 Korean symbols of longevity will be set up in Insa-dong, Seoul, which is famous for its old-Korea atmosphere and will be accompanied by traditional customs, including people writing their wishes on pieces of paper that are then tied to a string.