Two Ways to Celebrate February
By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
The second month of 2009 is here and there are two distinctive occasions to enjoy: ``Jeongweol Daeboreum,'' which falls on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar year and thus Feb. 9 this year, and Valentine's Day on Feb. 14.
``Jeongwol'' means the first full moon of the lunar year, and also the time when people look to find out what their luck will be. The full moon represents many things in societies that use the lunar calendar. Korea, an agricultural society in the past, appreciated the moon as it represented abundance, prosperity and life. While the sun is known to represent the men, the moon brought women to people's mind, and this was naturally connected to fertility and birth.
Although most Koreans don't use the lunar calendar as their ancestors used to, Jeongweol Daeboreum is still a widely known day with many interesting activities and traditions.
Valentine's Day, on the other hand, is celebrated all around the world on Feb. 14. In the case of Korea, Valentine's Day came through Japan in the 1980s. Many criticized the special day, even today, as an outcome of commercial means to ``sell'' affection among young men and women, but others simply enjoy it as a day when people can openly express their feelings to one another.
The interesting thing about the local Valentine's Day tradition is that the festivity goes on until March 14, commonly known as White Day here. While women give out candies to their loved ones on Valentine's Day, men give chocolate on White Day.
Jeongweol Daeboreum
Traditionally, Jeongweol Daeboreum was one of the most important days in the year, and so there were various activities, games and food Koreans enjoyed to bring more luck.
One of the first things Korean did to bring good luck was ``cracking busereum.'' ``Busereum'' literally means a boil, and in order to avoid the nasty disease, people would eat and ``crack'' hard-shelled nuts like chestnuts, walnuts and peanuts to scare them away. People would also say ``buy my heatstroke,'' which came from a belief that this would brush off the heat and promise a safe summer.
Folks would also get together to watch the moon, which is still known to day as ``dalmaji,'' or to ``welcome the full moon.''
Children and adults alike run to the highest place to watch the full moon with a torch, stick it in the ground and make a wish.
People would also predict the outcome of the New Year's farming by simply watching the moon. If the moonlight was a bit red, farmers would see a drought, while whiter light would bring a flood.
``Jwibul nori'' was also a popular game during the time, with farmers setting fire to their rice fields to get rid of pests and also ward off bad luck. The fire also helped return the soil to a healthy state, as the ashes became fertilizer. According to tradition, the bigger the fire, the better the farming. So many farmers and young men would compete to make a larger fire each year.
Kids also enjoyed the traditional activity spinning small tin cans. The cans would be connected with a wire and the adults would put in wood or pinecones in fire. The children would then spin the tin can and wish for a healthy and happy year.
The food was also special on Jeongweol Daeboreum. Families enjoy ``ogokbap'' or five-grain rice ― rice, barley, millet seeds, black and red beans. This was known to be a way to start the year with healthy and nurturing food.
The ``ogokbap'' was also eaten wrapped in cooked herbs or seaweed, as it was believed that ``wrapping'' the rice meant ``wrapping'' wealth and bringing it to homes. The northern part of the region would also use green perilla leaves to wrap the rice.
Valentine's Day
Despite the rich culture and tradition Jeongweol Daeboreum holds, many young people are more used to the Western holiday in February, Valentine's Day, and this has become a worrisome issue among some. Surprisingly enough though, there were actually some hints of ``flirting'' also on traditional holidays, including Jeongweol Daeboreum. Young women were given the chance to go out during the day and night when women were not usually allowed to go out freely, and so this was a day when young men and women could get together.
``Gyeongchip,'' one of the many subdivisions seasons of the year, was a day when couples ate gingko nuts together. Gyeongchip literally means the day when insects appear from their holes and when spring appears. The nuts represent ``1,000 years of life,'' and so couples would share the gingko nuts and promise their love forever.
Dano Day, which falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar, was also a day when young ladies could go out and enjoy many activities, swinging on swings being one of them.
``Traditionally, young women would go out and ride on swings. They might have found some young men watching, like the story in the traditional folk tale `Chun-hyang.' But this was not aimed to attract men, it just merely happened once in a while. Most of the traditional activities carried out on these days were for a higher purpose, like wishing good luck and health,'' Jung Yon-hak from the National Folk Museum of Korea said.
He added that it was hard to pinpoint a certain day in tradition that were solely meant for expressing love and emotions like Valentine's Day, but that sometimes flirting happened along the way.
Meanwhile, for those who still want to celebrate their love on Valentine's Day, here are some ideas that will not only make loved ones smile, but still keep the wallet relatively thick.
Body Shop offers its new line of perfume and body works called ``Japanese Cherry Blossom'' such as lotion and shower gel for prices that range from 13,500 won to 24,000 won. The pink and white exterior and the floral scent will satisfy those who are looking for something more than just chocolate. Along with the sweet scented body products, ladies can also find special Valentine's Day packages of Body Shop's popular men's line products.
Swiss watchmaker Swatch has also prepared a special Valentine's Day gift, complete with a red and pink watch, ring and necklace. Prices range from 55,000 won to 100,000 won.
For those who are looking for a present fit for the occasion, but still practical to use at work, a chocolate-shaped USB (30,000 won) will be a perfect gift. Gift Web site www.artmu.co.kr is planning to sell this special device until Feb. 14.
For men who are willing to spend a bit more on a gift for their ladies, visit www.allysonjeong.com for exquisite jewelry. The Korean jewelry designer Allyson Jeong garnered recognition and popularity as local celebrities showed up in her works. The costs range from 150,000 won and up.