Celebrating The Lunar new Year

Korean Adventure (March 7, 2003 Chautauqua)

Since I have been living and working in Korea, I have been able to celebrate the new year twice. On January 1st, I welcomed 2003, and on February 1st, I welcomed the year of the goat.
There are twelve different animals assigned to various years, including the rat, the dragon, and the cow. I was born in 1959, the year of the pig. According to my horoscope, I will be more of a homebody this year. So, no change.
Our calendar, the Gregorian, is used throughout Asia, but there are still those who rely on a lunar calendar to calculate the best time to celebrate ancient rites, such as the lunar new year.
The Gregorian calendar ignores the moon and adds leap days to recalculate the solar year. The lunar calendar, like the Islamic calendar, ignores the sun. The lunisolar calendar, exemplified by Chinese and Jewish calendars, adds leap months every three years. It can make you dizzy trying to keep them straight.
One of the main parts of the Korean tradition is something they call "jesa," which is a ritual performed in homes asking the residing spirit for blessings.
An altar table is set, and then the head of the household lights incense, pours liquor into a glass, and then into a bowl. He then bows twice to the ancestral spirit. His family follows suit, and the head reads the "chuk mun," or ritual address.
This is done three times, and a small amount of food is eaten to signify acceptance of the ancestors' symbolic blessing.
Some Christians have denounced it as a form of worship that they cannot condone. They also object to the drinking of liquor, as well as the increasingly popular tradition of visiting a fortune teller.
Such talk would have certainly brought down severe punishment in the 19th century, when over 300 believers lost their lives. Christianity has become close to a religious majority nowadays, and churches can be found on every street corner.
The struggle between the old (Confucianism) and the new (Christianity) can be very divisive of families, and compromises are having to be made. Many people are trying to find their own way of celebrating that will include everyone.
Some people simply say they are honoring their ancestors, and New Years Day is the appropriate occasion. It is part of a break from any orthodox religion and an effort to tailor their own beliefs and practices as they see fit.
Mainly, it seems to me, it is about family. Many Koreans have no religion at all, and don't perform the ceremony, but they do take the time to visit their home towns and pay their respects.
As the country changes and modernizes, some things will no doubt be lost. Maintaining something that is their own, may help a lot of Koreans retain a sense of national identity, and pave the way for better understanding and (one hopes) peace.
I got a lot of the information for this article from the Korea Herald, and a story by staff reporter Andrew Petty.

Year 2 - Lunar New Year

Another blast from the past. :) I found this old email from my 2nd year in Korea.

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Date: 31-Jan-03 05:03 PM

Happy New Year Again

Say goodbye to the year of the Horse and welcome in the year of the Goat. Saturday is the start of the next Lunar Year. While 2002 was the year of the Water Horse, 2003 is the year of the Water Goat. Every Lunar Year in Asia is associated with one of 12 animals and 5 elements.

In Korea everyone eats Dduk Guk New Year Day. It is a type of rice noodle soup.

Here is an excerpt about the new year that I got from http://www.chineseastrology.com/wu/ for more information on what the year means to each astrological sign go to http://www.chineseastrology.com/wu/goatyear.html

***

February 1, 2003 through January 21, 2004

February 1, 2003 heralds in the Year of the Water/Black Goat "Gui Wei" Most signs go into a state of "relapse," taking inventory and even doing some "damage control."

Relief is in sight during 2003, as the Goat/Ram who's essence is "propriety" brings a more relaxed and yielding year. Goat years are more "delicate," artistic, capricious, and full of "whimsy". Inspired by harmony, and feminine -Yin (balancing out the male +Yang of the previous Horse year), Goat years are creative, imaginative and ingenious!

Art galleries, forms and colors, and extravagant spending prevails. Rather

indifferent to the rules of society, the Goat is the most inconstant of the

zodiac years. Irresponsible? Undisciplined? Eccentric? Absolutely! But also

more peaceful, creative and adaptable. Goat years leap from one imaginary

cloud to the next, seeking novelty, beauty, and the path of least

resistance.

A feminine -Yin year of intuition, finesse, and good taste. As the hot-headed Horse year releases it's hold, the tranquillity-loving Goat offers elegance, delicacy, and the more aesthetic things in life. The down-side is a risk of becoming lost in fantasy, brooding and lack of responsibility. Bills go unpaid, mundane work is detestable, and dependency on wealth and comforts abound. A lack of organization and resisting routine in all it's forms, also constitutes un-punctual Goat years.

The good-news is that the Goat's "live and let live" attitude will be helpful in resolving conflicts brewed up in the previous Snake and Horse years. The Water element, which is with us again this year, has no form of it's own, and is forced to conform and take on the shape of what contains it. A lazier year, more dependent and changeable -- where outward appearances can be deceiving. All must avoid the sleeping, muddy waters of delays and inactivity.

While continuing to move closer to the ideals of spiritual oneness, we must continue to contend with our share of intolerant, provincially minded dictators. Similar to the barbarians of the past (Hitler, Stalin, Tse-tung, Napoleon, Idi Amin, Po poi, and Genghis Khan) our generation must contend with the likes of un-evolved extremists such as Bin Laden, Sadam Hussein, and the brutality of the North Korean government... Like all narcissistic conquerors who assume they are entitled to rule and to intimidate by some divine right, these dictators must be harshly dealt with like the petulant tyrants they are. We continue through the painful stages of a woman in labor, to be free from the stranglehold of despotism and tyranny.

Uneven distribution of rainfall, and some areas may suffer from flood (lower areas) or drought (higher elevations.) No food shortages, but the cost of living could increase drastically. Capricious Goat years also tend to bring rather dramatic shifts in government, politics and distribution of wealth. Expect the unexpected this year, and know that not all things are as they seem on the surface. Just as disaster seems eminent, deliverance and rescue arrives at the 11th hour. Best results are attained by remaining flexible. These changeable astral aspects stabilize after Fall/Autumn of 2003.

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My plan for the New Year is to enjoy a 3 day weekend and hopefully get rid of whatever it is that I have virus wise. January was a long and busy month so I plan to enjoy the weekend and get a lot of sleep.

The other day, well night actually, I was talking with a friend. We drifted into a discussion of marriage and the differences between East and West. She told me some interesting things about marriage in Korea.

In Korea, the man is supposed to provide the home. When they first get married this should be at LEAST a 2 bedroom apartment. That way they have a guest room. A three bedroom is considered best. Koreans tend to call their apartments houses. Most are actually more like condos than apartments. You actually buy your apartment.

There are several ways to get a "house". First is to pay wonsae (won say), which is what we know as monthly rent in the west. Then there is another method the name of which eludes me. Baiscally you pay for the year in advance. When you use this method you tend to get a discount. If a years rent would be 3.6 million Won you might only pay 3 million since it is all done in one lump sum.

The third way is called Chonsae. With Chonsae you pay a large sum of money up front. The interest of it is enough to pay the monthly rent. At the end of the year you get the money back, or can leave it in place for another year. This used to be the most common way of paying rent, and is still fairly common in a lot areas. It is one reason why it is hard for the younger generation to move out and get their own apartment without parental help.

It is the womans responsibility to provide furniture and electronics for the house. She is supposed to make sure it has all the furniture needed, appliances, etc. This can be almost as expensive as supplying a home, or even more so.

While they do not exchange rings per se as in the west jewelry is involved. Each is supposed to provide the other with a matching ring, watch, and for the woman necklace and earrings.

When they marry they are supposed to give out a LOT of gifts. The closer the relation the more expensive the gift is supposed to be. The big ticket items go to their parents, grand parents, and siblings. Male relations after that are supposed to get a suit of some sort. Female relations a dress. This would extend to nieces, nephews, great uncles and aunts, great nieces and nephews, and close cousins.

Those who go to the wedding are expected to give a cash gift to the happy couple. After all the money they spent on everything they need the cash. ;)

While the cost of the wedding itself may not be as high as in the west, they still have to pay out a lot of money.

Time to go take some more oriental medicine.

Happy Lunar New Year

Flint

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I really enjoyed the talk about wedding customs with my friend. I still am not sure which (Western or Korean) wedding is the most expensive. I think, with all the levels of gift giving, the Korean could be but then again the money gifts may offset some of that.

Oriental medicine. I am still torn about its usefulness. While recovering from an arm injury I have to say accupuncture did help. The "potions" you are given to drink ... I am not so sure of.

Year 1 - Lunar New Year

Happy New Year!

Yes, Happy New Year. It is the lead up to Sollal, the Lunar New Year, here. In Asia most countries don't really celebrate the "Western" New Year. Instead, Lunar New Year is the big celebration time. Which is why I have a 5 day vacation, which started yesterday. :)

This will be the year of the Horse, the Water Horse. I am a Fire Horse myself. If you are interested in learning more about the Chinese and Korean Astrological signs check out http://www.chineseastrology.com/wu/

Yesterday I spent most of the day out with one of my students. We went to Sangdangsansong, or Sangdang Fortress. It is an old fortress on top of a mountain. I had a great time there, and we went to one of the oldest restaurants in the area for lunch. Lunch consisted of a LOT of side dishes, plus a taek-tang and a bap-tang. Taek is chicken, bap is rice, and tang is soup. If you mixed the two soups together, and took out the ginger root, it would have looked exactly like mom's home made chicken soup with rice. It ALMOST tasted as good as mom's soup too. Then we went walking around a mall back in Chongju for a while. I picked up some dirt cheap VCD's. THey were selling off stock, and they only cost 3300 WON each! So I picked up Commando and Dusk Til Dawn. When I was getting out of the car to go home Cheong-Seob, my student, gave me a Sollal gift, a Whiskey gift set. It was very nice of him, I hadn't expected anything.

Sollal is to Koreans what Christmas and New Years are to us. It is a time for family to gather and celebrate the New Year. It is also a time to remember your ancestors, and honour them. You give close friends and family members, and those you respect a gift as well. Plus, when kids shpow respect to their elders on New Years day you are supposed to rewrad them with money. They show respect by bowing and saying a nice greeting to you. Elementary age kids get 1000 won, middle school 5000, and high school 10,000. It can be an expensive day if you have a large family. While it isn't excatly the same as Christmas, that is the closest Western holiday it equates to.

I will be spending a fairly quiet Sollal in Chongju. Unfortunately for 3 days not much will be open. Odds are I will spend part of it with friends. I also have a houseguest. While one of the teachers is in China I am watching his lovebird, Bibimbap. (Yes, he named his bird after a rice dish.) It has taken Bibimbap a while to get settled, he still isn't fully comfortable with the change, but he is starting to chirp to music again. Although not enough as to annoy the hell out of me. I think that if he knew it would annoy me he would be chirping a LOT more. ;)

Is Bush STILL on drugs? Some of his comments, before and after being appointed President by his brother Jeb, and then the Supreme Court, REALLY make you wonder if he is or not. Or at the least make you wonder if he has some sort of brain damage. I, and other teachers, actually use some of his quotes from major speeches, interviews, and policy announcements in class as examples of bad grammar, and how people should NOT create words just because they can't think of a real one. But I digress.

I hope you all have a Happy Lunar New Year!

Flint

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Ah Bush thanks to your stupidity people could mock you AND educate others at the same time. :)

Happy Lunar New Year

Happy Solnal!

After 9 years it doesn't seem strange to have 2 New Years to celebrate. It is kind of fun. Last year was the best though. Stig and I were in Qingdao, China for Lunar New Year. Great time.

In Korea Lunar New Year, or Solnal, is a 3 day holiday. BUT since it is based on the lunar calendar the actual days fluctuate on the solar calendar. This year we get screwed out of 2 vacation days because of that. Solnal day is today, Sunday, so we only get Monday off work. (Unless you happen to work Saturdays.) Next year it is going to be strange. It will be a Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The best times are when it is Wednesday to Friday or Monday to Wednesday. Then you get a 5 day weekend. :)

In China it is a week long celebration. Most places are closed for all or a good part of it. There are fire works all day and night. It is easy to buy some and set them off. If there had been more holiday time this year I would have went back to Qingdao.

The only problem with Lunar New Year in Asia is that a lot of places close. We wanted the rib place for dinner last night but it was closed. Settled for decent fish and chips and rum before going to meet friends. We are going to try and find sushi or sashimi today but it is hard to say if a shop will be open.

An old friend is in town with his family for the holidays. Last night he was out and about, so Stig and I hooked up with him and another friend. It was a great time. One of the best I have had at Road King in well over a year. If only they would get a rum that doesn't make me want to vomit I might go there more often.

We were drinking Jack Daniels and cokes plus some scotch when it came time for the cigars. I had a fantastic Monte Cristo torpedo. Stig had a Partegas.

All in all a great Lunar New Year Eve.

No idea why I woke up at 8 but it is feeling like time to go back to bed. Why go back to bed? Because I can. :)