February 14 is Seollal Lunar New Year's Day in Korea. It is celebrated for three days February 13 - 15 where stores are closed and people return to their home towns and provinces.
The year 2010 is called GYEONGINNYEON the year of the Tiger. From what I have learned, the tiger is the symbol of faithfulness and justice. The tiger is a proactive worker and very charismatic. People born in this year are gifted with a strong sense of justice, strong mind and passion. They are well liked and often become leaders.
Al and I were going to venture into Seoul this week-end but decided against this. We learned that the one hour trip would take three hours!! Three of Al's colleagues confirmed this. During this holiday, Koreans return to their home towns and provinces to perform ceremonial rites and pay respects to their ancestors. Traffic is congested and trains are booked as people visit first the husband's family and then the wife's family. All radio stations broadcast special live traffic updates due to massive migration of people. One of Al's colleague is not looking forward to her trip to Busan (normally a 6 hour drive) she says that it will probably take 8 - 9 hours.
People buy gifts of food for friends and family. My trip to E-Mart yesterday was a nightmare! I have never seen so many people, there were even security guards directing traffic at the gates. All the carts were in use and you had to be extremely aggressive to move through the aisles. At the same time there was an underlying sense of respect. There was no shouting, pushing or rudeness!!! In all the hustle and bustle I had forgotten to have my fresh vegetables weighed and priced. No one was upset when I held up the check-out line as the staff had to take my produce back to be priced.
According to Korean tradition, it is believed that ancestors return on this day to enjoy the holiday food prepared for them. An ancestral tablet is placed on the rites table alongside the dishes and drinks. These ancestral rites also symbolize the descendant's prayer for a good new year.
A happy Lunar New Year to all.
Cheers until next time.
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