Family traditions: Korea. Interesting traditions and customs of North Korea

Korean culture

Although the current division of the Korean Peninsula into North and South Korea has resulted in significant differences in modern culture both countries, traditions and customs Korean people and Korean culture as a whole are the same for both countries. Let's take a closer look at the main components of Korean culture.

• Dance

Since ancient times, since the reign of the Goryeo dynasty, in Korea great importance had a dance. There is a huge variety traditional dances, such as dance with swords, dance with fans, dance of a monk, jester, peasant, etc. They were performed both at the emperor's court and in the villages villager put on performances. Now dance is not such an important part of life in modern Korea, but there are many schools in many universities in Korea folk dance taught as an academic subject.

Pakjeommu - dance of the fluttering wings of a butterfly

• Painting

Painting is an integral part of Korean culture. It contains the influence of culture, but in itself it is specific and original. Of particular interest is the still painting that was formed during the reign of the Joseon Dynasty. They painted on silk, paper, special fabrics with vegetable, mineral paints or ink. If artistic painting reflected an unusual vision of the world through the eyes of an artist, then folk painting showed everyday life and problems Everyday life. We can say that painting existed and developed in two directions, and left behind immortal creations.

Cat and butterfly. XVIII century. Artist: Kim Dong Ho

• Korean garden

Few people know, but the traditional Korean garden has existed for more than two thousand years. It looks like a landscape park; people take little part in its formation. All gardens include features such as streams, circular ponds, shaped trees, waterfalls, a rock garden, and hills resembling mountains. Harmony dominates here, regardless of a particular detail. Harmony is created by all the variety of shapes and sizes present here. Traditional Korean gardens are located in France (Nantes), Mexico City (Chapultepec Zoo), Turkey (Ankara), Germany (Berlin), etc.

• Hanbok

Hanbok - national traditional costume, consisting of their jeogori (blouse) and chima (skirt) - for women and pazhi - for men. These are clothes for official receptions, holidays and festivals. But there are also hanboks that can be worn as casual wear. They are made from cheaper fabrics and are easy to care for.

• Kitchen

It is known that modern Korean culture borrows more and more every year more elements cultures of European countries, but something remains unchanged, namely - National cuisine. The basis, as in most Asian countries, is rice. But, nevertheless, traditional Korean cuisine has a number of distinctive, even specific features. For example, many dishes are replete with spices, especially red pepper, and all because Korea is a warm and southern country, and pepper allows you to keep food fresh longer, and over time, the concepts of “tasty” and “spicy” have become synonymous. Along with pepper, seasonings such as soy sauce and soybean paste. But Koryo-saram is used to give dishes a special taste, in large quantities I use coriander.

Kimchi – spicy pickled vegetables

Holidays in Korea

Like many countries, Korea has its own National holidays, which are usually celebrated with a special, Korean scale.

• Seollal - Korean New Year

Traditionally, this holiday is celebrated on the first day lunar calendar. The weekend lasts three days, and during this time it is customary to dress up in hanbok, visit parents or go to hometown, go to the seashore to meet the first rays of the sun there. Also on these days, deceased ancestors are remembered by preparing special dishes and performing a ritual called chare. In Sollal, children congratulate their parents, always bowing to the floor, and the person also becomes a year older.

• Liberation Day

Every year this holiday is celebrated in Northern and South Korea August 15. On this day, Japan liberated Korea from colonial rule. On this day, an official ceremony is held, in which many high-ranking officials of the country participate. The country's flags are hung everywhere, and according to tradition, several prisoners are given amnesty on this day.

• Chuseok – a festival of harvest and remembrance of ancestors

The holiday falls on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the eastern calendar. Weekends – the day before and the day after the holiday. A few days before the holiday, Koreans buy food and gifts, buy train and plane tickets to go to their hometown. On a holiday, they set the table in the morning and commemorate their ancestors, or take food to the cemetery. They tie sheaves of cereals to poles, thanking the gods for the harvest, and treat the brownie. Girls and women perform national dance Kankansulle, and children with their fathers fly kites into the sky.

• Korean wedding

A modern Korean wedding is neither a traditional Korean nor a European wedding. New traditions and customs among the Korean people developed only about fifty years ago, but they are firmly entrenched and widely used by all Koreans.

Wedding traditions and customs of the Korean people have changed a lot over the years. last years. Since the sixties wedding ceremony It is customary to take place in so-called “ritual” halls. But most often weddings are held in restaurants or in hotel conference rooms. Guests arriving for the ceremony must bring a gift to the newlyweds, usually money. The bride and groom also have their own waiting rooms where guests can take photos with them. Traditional hanboks have been replaced by “traditional” European outfits - Wedding Dress and a suit. Wedding - open event. Often, in addition to the photographer, there is a videographer. Instead of the familiar Mendelssohn march, Wagner's wedding march is played, which is extremely rarely used in other countries. The groom enters the hall first, then the father leads the bride to the altar. Most important role V wedding ceremony played by the person performing the ritual. Usually this is a close relative or friend of the groom. The whole ceremony lasts about half an hour, after which the young couple and guests go to the gala banquet. After it begins, the young people put on traditional outfits and go to a specially designated room, where they have dinner with their parents. Usually, immediately after the wedding, the couple goes on a trip.

• Tol chanchi - first birthday

A child's first birthday is a special date. Often, preparation for this holiday begins even before the baby is born. A large number of guests are invited on this day, and the ceremony itself is often held outside the home. Guests bring gifts to the baby, congratulate him, after which a traditional ritual begins that determines the fate of the child. Various objects are placed on the table in front of a child dressed in hanbok, each of which carries a special meaning. His fate depends on what the baby picks up. For example, if it is a handful of cereal, then he will never go hungry. Threads promise long life, and the book is a rich mind. After this, a traditional banquet begins, before which the child’s parents bow to the floor, thanking the guests for coming. This is how the first birthday goes!

Thus, even today, in today’s rapidly changing world, the traditions and customs of the Korean people fill the lives of Koreans with meaning and are passed on from generation to generation. After all, the economic situation can be restored, but no one can return lost traditions and culture.

Korea is very ancient country. Despite historical changes, the culture and life of Koreans is determined by the Confucian system of relations.

Respect for elders

Social status and age mean a lot to Koreans when communicating. The wishes of elders must be fulfilled unquestioningly. That is why Koreans who are younger in age or social status fulfill the requests of their elders without objection. It is not surprising that when meeting people, questions are often asked about their personal life, work, age, and education. They are needed to determine the status of the interlocutor. Respect for elders is common among Koreans of all ages, including children and youth.

Names

A Korean's full name consists of a surname and a given name. The surname usually has one and the given name has two syllables. Married women they do not change their surname, but their children are given their father’s surname.

Rite of remembrance of ancestors (chere)

Koreans believe that after death, the soul lives in this world for four generations. During this time, the deceased person is considered a family member. The ceremony is carried out to Luny New Year or Harvest Day and definitely in day of death. Koreans believe that the deceased protect their loved ones from misfortune.

Marriages

An important event for a Korean is marriage. A single man cannot be considered an adult. Divorce- This is a shame for the families of the husband and wife. The wedding ceremony is first performed in Western style. The bride and groom put on the toxido and wedding dress. The traditional wedding ceremony takes place on the same day. The newlyweds dress in national wedding costumes.

Rules of conduct, gestures

Words of gratitude are always pronounced with a bow. The degree of bow depends on the status of the interlocutor. Koreans are very reserved; they do not accept hugs, only a polite handshake. Touching between Koreans of the same sex is acceptable. For example, female friends walking down the street and holding hands are not surprising. Showing affection and kissing in public is considered indecent behavior. When entering a house, Koreans always take off their shoes. According to tradition, they sleep, eat and sit on the floor. When visiting, be sure to wear socks. Showing bare legs to elders is indecent. In a restaurant or cafe, someone pays for the food alone, but young people pay together. It is indecent to blow your nose at the table, serve something with one hand, or leave chopsticks in a bowl of rice. You can call a person only with your hand, the palm of which is facing down. With the palm of the hand facing upward, they call the dogs; it is indecent to beckon with a finger. Koreans are very hard-working people. They are often late at work. Many shops, markets and restaurants are open 24 hours a day. After work, colleagues go to dinner somewhere. It's cheaper than cooking at home. Koreans don't drink a lot of hot drinks. This is mainly local low-alcohol vodka. They never get rowdy and are not late for work in the morning. In Korea, it is not customary to apologize. If a Korean accidentally pushes someone or steps on someone’s foot, he will not apologize, but will simply move on. The point is that he doesn't want the person to feel awkward. After all, in response to an apology, he will have to say something.

Hanbok

Hanbok- this is Korean National Costume. Before the arrival of Western fashion on the peninsula, hanbok was casual wear. Men wore trousers and a jacket, and women wore a skirt and jacket. Modern Koreans wear hanbok for holidays and weddings.

Ondol

Ondol- This is a heating system built into the floor. At home, Koreans prefer to sit, sleep and eat on the floor. The rooms are universal. If it’s time to sleep, they lay out a mattress or mats, and it’s time for dinner, they put up a folding table. Previously, hot air was used to heat the house, which passed through pipes built into the clay floor. IN modern houses use water heating. Circulating through pipes in the floor, hot water heats the room. The floors are covered with linoleum and other modern materials.

Kimchi

Kimchi- This ancient tradition preparing kimchi for the winter. It is impossible to imagine Korean cuisine without kimchi. This dish consists of pickled vegetables. Most often they ferment Chinese cabbage. Kimchi is a very spicy snack, like all Korean cuisine.

Eastern medicine

The principle of Eastern medicine is the harmonization of the human biofield. It is believed that if any organ hurts, it means that the balance of energies in the body is disturbed. Treatment is aimed at increasing immunity and restoring energy channels. Eastern medicine treats with herbs, aromas of essential oils, acupuncture, massage. Koreans have a very peaceful character. They are friendly, have a philosophical approach to life, and know and respect their traditions.

Family life

In the past, in traditional Korean society, 3-4 generations lived together in one family. However, as Korea began to rapidly industrialize and urbanize in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as limiting the birth rate of children, the country's culture began to change, and since the 1980s, it is rare to see more than two children in a single Korean family. In Korean society, Confucian traditions have been preserved to this day, according to which preference is given to the eldest son. To combat gender discrimination, the government passed a law according to which the son and daughter are equal heirs when dividing property. Young married couples Currently, they mostly live separately from their parents.

Names

Most Koreans have surnames, the most common of which are: Kim (approximately 21% of all Koreans), Lee (14%), Park (8%), Choi (or Choi), Jeon, Chan, Im, etc. Korean name consists of a surname, as a rule, it is always one syllable, and a given name, usually two syllables following the name (but it happens that the name also consists of one syllable). Women do not take their husband's surname when they marry, but children will bear their father's surname.

Marriage

Koreans consider marriage the most important stage in a person’s life, and have an extremely negative attitude towards divorce, as a manifestation of disrespect not only for each other, but also for parents - although, despite this, the number of divorces for Lately is growing at a rapid pace.

Chere (rite of remembrance of ancestors)

According to Korean belief, a person's soul does not leave immediately after his death, but remains with his descendants for another four generations. All this time, the deceased person is still considered a member of the family, and Koreans perform a special ceremony in his honor, Chere on Seollal - New Year's Day. eastern calendar Chuseok is a Korean Thanksgiving day and also the day of death anniversary. Koreans also believe that their life here in this world can be happy and prosperous only if their ancestors bless them.

Language of the body

When you call someone to you, place your palm down and wave it, moving all your fingers. Never call anyone with your palm up, and especially with one finger - this is how Koreans call dogs.

Ondol

Traditional Korean rooms are very multifunctional. They have no special purpose; the same room, for example, can be both a bedroom and a dining room, etc. Almost all Koreans sit and eat on the floor, and therefore simply bring a mattress or dining table into the room as needed.
The floor is usually stone or concrete, and hot air is specially blown under it to heat the room. The top layer can be clay or cement, protecting people from harmful gases. This heating method is called “ondol” (literally from Korean: “hot stone”).
Currently, hot water circulates under the floor, and the floor itself is usually covered with linoleum.

Korean cuisine

Korean cuisine is famous for its wide variety of dishes and food products used in them. In ancient times, Korea was an agricultural country that mainly grew rice, which served as the main food product for the population. Currently, in Korean cuisine, along with herbs and vegetables, different kinds meat and fish. Korean foods such as kimchi (sauerkraut), jeogal (salted shellfish, fish or shrimp) and twanjang (soybean paste) are famous for their distinctive flavor and high nutritional value.
The most distinguishing feature Korean table is that all dishes are served at the same time. Traditionally, the number of snacks varied from 3 for the poor to 12 for royalty. The table setting varies depending on what is served: noodles or meat dish. Formal table setting rules show the attention Koreans place on food and the eating process. Compared to neighboring China and Japan, the spoon is used more often in Korea, especially when serving soups.

Gimjang is the time to prepare kimchi for the winter, a special method whose secrets are passed down from generation to generation. Since vegetables practically do not grow in Korea in winter, Gimjang is held in late autumn, supplying Koreans with their staple food, kimchi, for the entire winter, since Koreans simply cannot imagine a table without it.

National clothing (hanbok)

Hanbok has been traditional Korean clothing for thousands of years. All its beauty and grace can be seen in photographs of women wearing hanbok. Hanbok was everyday wear in Korea until Western style arrived in the country about a hundred years ago. Men wore "jeogori" (jackets) with "paji" (pants), and women wore "jeogori" with "chhima" (skirt). These days, hanbok is worn for holidays such as Seollal (Oriental New Year), Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving), or weddings.

Traditional Korean house

A traditional Korean house is called a "hanok". When building such a house, a place is selected where people can coexist with nature. That's why natural conditions traditional Korean house include from internal structure to used building materials. Another unique feature of traditional houses is their special layout, which allows the house to be cooled in the summer and heated in the winter. Hot summer and Cold winter led to the invention of the Ondol Gudeul floor heating system and the Daecheon ventilated terrace. Thanks to such inventions, Koreans were able to endure the cold of winter and stuffy, humid summers. Such simple heating and air conditioning systems are so effective that they are used in many homes even today.

Korean traditions

The traditions of the Korean people definitely influenced the emergence of crafts. The products of Korean craftsmen are famous for their quality, subtlety and elegance of execution.

One of the Korean traditions was to sleep by sitting directly on the floor. Therefore, the work of cabinetmakers was simple, but of a very sophisticated, complex design. All products were made from the best types of wood using high-quality, most often transparent, varnishes.

All proportions were respected. Craftsmen invented more and more new parts and ways to attach them. All metal parts for wooden furniture were made of bronze, copper and oiled iron.

Furniture from the 18th century has survived to this day: tables, cabinets, shelves, chests of drawers. They belong to the Joseon Dynasty.

All metal parts for wooden furniture were made of bronze, copper and oiled iron.

Another of the most ancient crafts is metal processing. Products made of gold, silver and bronze, jewelry that have survived to this day, never cease to amaze with their sophistication. The greatest admiration is for the products that were made by craftsmen from the kingdom of Silla.

Printing is another page in the cultural history of Korea. In 1234, typeface came into use. In Europe, this phenomenon appeared only 200 years later. A document made using this font dates back to 1377. It is now kept in the National Library of Paris.

The production of religious objects is also quite developed, which began to spread with the rise of Buddhism. Religious objects include: incense burners, gongs, lamps, etc. Crayfish for storing the ashes of cremated monks after death deserve special attention. They often had the shape of a pagoda.

Much is known about the making of bronze bells. They reached sizes from 30 cm to several meters. These bells had a unique design and a special long drawn-out sound, which shows the art of metalworking, well studied by Korean craftsmen.
Many Korean arts and crafts continue to exist to this day. The decorative and applied arts of Koreans are developed and passed on from generation to generation. It is part of the national culture of Korea, which influences many aspects of the life of the Korean population.

Holidays

Koreans are working people. But no one disdains holidays and memorable dates, quite the contrary. Since the country uses two calendars, there are quite a few holiday dates. Not all holidays have retained their ancient customs. But the two main holidays of the year, namely Lunar New Year and Chuseok, continue to be celebrated as they should be.

Sol (or New Year) is the name of the first day of the first month, one of the main holidays of the year. Koreans celebrate New Year twice. January 1 and 2 are the official date of the New Year celebration. The New Year according to the lunar calendar has an approximate date - the end of January or the beginning of February. It is customary to celebrate it with family and relatives. Koreans also send thank-you cards to friends and comrades with wishes for the coming year.

According to custom, children dress up in hanbok (silk, colorful clothes), bow to their elders and parents (sebae), wishing each other and their family members happiness (pok). Parents and older relatives reward their children with a small amount of money and give wise advice.

For entertainment purposes, they fly kites into the sky and play tug-of-war. There is also a folk board game with chopsticks - noria.

Each game carries a special meaning. The tug of war, parts of which symbolize the masculine and feminine principles, prepares abundance and prosperity for the winning team. Flying a kite symbolizes deliverance from grief, troubles, failures and illnesses.

Traditionally, one of the main dishes on the table is deokguk, a soup with rice dumplings in meat broth. Eating toekguk implies “eating” another year. Other traditional foods: pindaetok (bean pancakes), dumplings, sujeongwa (cinnamon tea), sikhae (rice kvass), etc.

Chuseok is the "Harvest Festival", the fifteenth day of the eighth month

Another main holiday in South Korea. On this day gratitude is expressed higher powers for the harvest - hanavi.

It is customary to celebrate this day surrounded by relatives, friends, and family. Traditional clothing is khabok. According to custom, a table is set for the ancestors and certain ceremonies are performed. Products collected from the new harvest are placed on the table - chestnuts, persimmons, apples, Korean pears, yubba.

Be sure to make rice cakes in the shape of a crescent - songpyeon.

It is customary to have fun with the same games as in the New Year.

Korean wedding

A modern Korean wedding is neither like an ancient wedding ceremony nor like a Western wedding. its new traditions developed quite recently, in the fifties, but everyone in Korea follows them.

Since the 1960s The main, although not the only, place for the wedding ceremony was the “ritual halls” - “yesikzhang”. Despite such a vague name, these establishments do not hold “rituals” in general, but weddings. Quite often, a wedding is celebrated in a restaurant, in the hall of which all the necessary rituals are held (exactly the same as in “yesikjang”). Some families prefer to spend the entire holiday at home, but there are relatively few of them now.

In the old days, great importance was attached to choosing a favorable day and even hour for wedding celebrations. This choice was made after consultation with a professional fortuneteller. In general, this custom is still alive today, although now the fortuneteller is often consulted about choosing only the day (but not the hour) of the wedding. The day is determined according to the ancient lunar calendar, and not according to the Western (solar) calendar now accepted in South Korea. The leap month, which is sometimes inserted into the Far Eastern lunisolar calendar, is considered extremely unfavorable for weddings. During this month, the number of orders in yesikjang is reduced many times. So, in 1995, during a leap month, which then fell in October, the number of orders in one of the most famous “yesikjang” in the city of Gwangju decreased by about 15 times compared to a normal October.

A wedding is usually scheduled for the daytime, and most people want it to take place on Sunday or Saturday afternoon, that is, after hours, when everyone invited can come to the celebration. Some weddings take place on regular weekdays, but this is quite rare. Therefore, in 1996, the Ministry of Social Security reduced prices for using esikjangs on weekdays by 50%. These prices, like many others, are strictly controlled by the government in Korea.

Before the wedding, the bride visits the hairdresser and puts on a wedding dress. Since the 1950s In Korea, luxurious white dresses, almost indistinguishable from Western models, came into fashion and became an almost obligatory part of the wedding ritual (including non-church ones). Most brides sew their dress again. The groom at a wedding is usually dressed in an expensive Western-style suit, sometimes even in a tailcoat. A tailcoat is like an expensive thing, but ordinary life they almost never buy something they don’t need, but rent it for the duration of the wedding, but they can buy a suit for such an occasion.

Shortly before the appointed time of the wedding, guests begin to arrive at the esikjang. There is a special “waiting room” for the bride and her closest friends; other guests go inside immediately upon arrival, while the men wait for the ceremony to begin right at the entrance, exchanging greetings. The parents of the bride and groom are also there, who also greet the arriving guests.

Korean weddings are exceptionally crowded. It is customary to invite relatives, including very distant ones, colleagues, and former classmates to a wedding, so usually there are several hundred, and in some cases several thousand, guests at a wedding.

A wedding is a very expensive event, but it is still cheaper than it might seem at first glance. A custom that instructs all invitees to bring envelopes with money to the wedding, which are given to the newlyweds as gifts, helps reduce the burden of expenses. There are almost no “material” gifts given at Korean weddings. The amounts given in this way can vary greatly, but in most cases the envelope contains several tens of thousands of won (10 thousand won - approximately 8 dollars). Immediately upon arrival at esikjang, guests place envelopes with money on a tray placed at the entrance to the hall and sign on a special list. By tradition, all envelopes must be labeled, so that the hosts always know how generous this or that guest was.

About half an hour or an hour before the ceremony, the newlyweds appear. First, the bride goes to the “waiting room”, where she gets herself in order. Often, even before arriving at esikjang, young people in full ceremonial attire go to one of the few city parks to take photographs there. outdoors. Generally speaking, during a wedding, newlyweds are constantly photographed, and a luxuriously designed wedding album can be found in any Korean home. Of course, along with photographers, videographers are often invited to weddings.

A few minutes before the ceremony begins, guests enter the hall and sit on chairs. Those invited from the groom's side sit on the left (if you stand with your back to the door) side of the aisle, and those invited by the bride's family sit on the right. After this, the actual wedding begins. The first to enter the hall are the mother of the groom and the mother of the bride. They approach the dais located at the far end of the hall, on which, in fact, the entire ritual will take place, and light the candles installed there. After this, they bow to each other and the guests and sit in their places of honor in the front row.

Then the groom enters the hall. Behind him appears the bride, led by the hand by her father or, if he is not there, then one of her older male relatives. The bride, accompanied by her father, approaches the groom, after which the groom greets his future father-in-law and takes the bride by the hand. At this time, music sounds - not familiar to us " Wedding March" by Mendelssohn, and the other "Wedding March" by Wagner. In accordance with ancient traditions, which have passed into modern ritual, the bride should not raise her eyes when passing through the hall. She walks through the hall with her head bowed low and her eyes downcast, with her whole appearance depicting meekness, which in ancient Confucian times was considered the main dignity of a Korean woman.

After this, the ritual director approaches the newlyweds - a figure who plays a very important role in the wedding ceremony. It is customary to invite a respected person who occupies a prominent position in society to fill this role. The role of ritual manager can be a large businessman, official, politician, university professor, etc. Typically, families of young people seek to invite the highest-ranking and most influential of their acquaintances to this role. In addition to him, the host also takes part in the wedding ceremony, who must represent the main characters, give the necessary orders. The host is usually one of the groom's friends.

After the bride and groom rise to the low podium at the end of the hall, the ritual director addresses them and those present with a short speech, which usually lasts about 5 minutes. It is this speech that is considered climax the official part of the celebration. First, the ritual director invites the newlyweds to take an oath that they are ready to live their lives in love and harmony. Young people express their consent with a short monosyllabic “E” (“Yes”). After this, the manager solemnly proclaims them husband and wife. In the rest of the speech, the manager praises the newlyweds, talks about the merits of the bride and groom, and wishes them happiness in their beginning family life.

After this it is time for greetings. First, the newlyweds, standing next to each other, greet the bride’s parents with a deep bow, then the groom’s parents, and, finally, all the guests. After this, the newlyweds leave the hall together (this time to the sounds of Mendelssohn’s “Wedding March”). This concludes the main part of the wedding ceremony, which lasts no more than half an hour. At the exit from the hall, photography begins again. The first photograph is taken together with the director of the ritual, the second - together with the parents, the further ones - together with relatives, colleagues and fellow students.

After the official part is completed, all guests go to a gala dinner, which can be held either in the banquet restaurant at the esikjang, or somewhere nearby. However, the young people are not present at the banquet. After it begins, they go to a special room “pyebeksil”, in which the newlyweds greet their parents and husband’s relatives, who have specially gathered there. For this ceremony, both the bride and groom remove their Western attire and change into traditional Korean wedding dress. There is also a table with refreshments in the room, the obligatory element of which is jujube fruits.

The bride and groom, in turn, in order of seniority, approach each of the relatives and, having made a ritual bow to him, present him with a glass of alcohol. The greeting begins with the groom's parents, before whom it is necessary to make two bows to the ground and one bow from the waist. Other older relatives are greeted with one bow to the ground and one bow.

In response, each of those whom the bride greeted in this way gives her money, which the newlyweds then take with them on their honeymoon. The old custom is still widespread when the newlywed's father-in-law and mother-in-law throw a jujub, symbolizing male offspring, into the newlywed's skirt, thus expressing to her the desire to have more sons. Another custom, based on the same symbolism, is often found at weddings: the groom puts the jujube fruit in the bride’s mouth, and then they drink a glass together.

After meeting with the husband's relatives, the newlyweds usually go to banqueting hall where guests are welcomed. Immediately after the wedding, the newlyweds go on their honeymoon.

This is how life together begins...

Child's birthday

In many countries, the anniversary of the birth of a person is the most important family holiday. This also applies to Korea.

The first major celebration that was dedicated to the birth of a child were rituals on the occasion of 100 days from the moment of his birth. Nowadays, 100 days from the moment of birth (“baek il”, which, in fact, means “100 days”) are not celebrated so grandly, but in times of enormous infant mortality, the fact that a newborn has safely overcome the most dangerous period of his life was a reason for joy. If the child was sick on that day, the holiday was not celebrated so as not to cause misfortune.

Traditions required that on this day offerings (rice and soup) be made to the patroness of childbirth, Samsin halmoni. On this day, it was also supposed to send rice cookies to everyone you knew. Those who received such a gift sent back offerings consisting of rice and/or money. Nowadays, all these rituals have almost disappeared, and on the occasion of the 100th day of the birth of a child, only a small evening can be organized in the family, to which relatives and friends are invited.

Where higher value has “toly”, the first birthday of a child who is one year old. And today “tolya” is celebrated with exceptional pomp. Traditionally, the hero of the occasion, dressed in a bright suit of colored silk, specially made for this occasion, sits next to his parents, importantly observing the ritual in his honor. The culmination of the entire celebration is considered to be a fortune-telling about the child’s future, which, albeit in a somewhat modernized form, remains popular even now, although, of course, it is taken with much less seriousness than in the old days.

In accordance with this ritual, a small table is placed in front of the child, on which objects are placed, each of which has a special symbolic meaning. Most often it is thread, a book, a writing brush, ink, money, rice, noodles. In addition, scissors are placed on the table for girls, and a dagger or arrow is placed on the table for boys. The baby should go to the table and take the item he likes. If he picks up a thread or noodles, this means that longevity awaits him, the choice of a brush for writing or a book foreshadows a successful official career, rice or money are chosen by those who expect wealth, the fruits of jujub symbolize numerous and famous offspring, a dagger or an arrow The scissors chosen by the boy mean that he will become a famous warrior, and the scissors chosen by the girl foretell that she will become a good housewife. AND

To this day, “tol” is a large and rather expensive celebration, which is celebrated magnificently, with dozens of invitees. On “tolya” it is customary to give children’s things, money, and gold rings. Often, after celebrating “tolya”, a family ends up with quite large quantity such rings, which are considered as a kind of reserve accumulation for the baby.

However, after the first birthday comes the second, then the third, fourth, and all of them, of course, are also celebrated in Korea. Birthday celebration traditions these days are quite mixed. On the one hand, a significant part of Koreans celebrate them according to Western tradition.

Birthdays are often celebrated in a restaurant, and “ buffets”, which in Korea generally serve as one of the most favorite places for family celebrations. An indispensable accessory festive table is a cake, often quite large and very beautiful. In general, cake for most Koreans, who are generally indifferent to sweets, is associated exclusively with two holidays - happy birthday and merry Christmas. Therefore, when selling a cake in a pastry shop, the visitor is always asked if he needs a set of small candles, which, according to Western tradition, are supposed to decorate a birthday cake. An almost invariable part of the ritual is the solemn performance of the American congratulatory melody “Happy birthday to you!” It is curious that almost all middle-aged and older Koreans, as well as a very significant part of young people, celebrate their birthday not according to the Western, but according to the traditional lunar calendar, so this holiday is different years falls on different dates.

The cultural component of a particular country is a very serious subject to study, especially before traveling. Each nation has its own traditions and customs, its own prohibitions and beliefs. The same gesture different countries can be interpreted in completely different ways, and if you can put up with comical situations, but no one will tolerate insults from visitors. If you are planning a holiday in , now is the time to get acquainted with its culture.

Fundamental principles of South Korean culture

In 1948, one large state, Korea, was divided into the DPRK and the Republic of Korea. After this, the culture of each country began to develop in different ways, but their origins and roots are the same. In particular, the behavior of society is based on the principles of Confucianism, which were developed in China in 500 BC.

From a young age, Koreans instill in their children love and respect for parents, family, and those in authority. Great importance is attached to such concepts as justice, honesty, humanism, peace and education. In modern South Korean culture, a model of behavior called the Rule of Five Relationships has developed on this basis. In particular, it provides for certain norms in communication between father and son, husband and wife, elder and younger generations, ruler and subject, between friends.

Tourists who come to this country on holiday often fall out of this pattern of behavior. Therefore, sometimes it seems that Koreans are rude and ignorant. But in fact, until you enter into one of these types of relationships, you may simply not be noticed.

It is because of the Rule of Five Relationships that Koreans can sometimes ask somewhat awkward and personal questions. But if local interested in your marital status or age, do not rush to be rude in response - he is simply trying to determine by what rules he should interact with you.

Selected manifestations of South Korean culture

Understanding the fundamental principles of building relationships between Koreans, it will be interesting to consider more specific manifestations of their behavior patterns. In particular, these are:

1. Respect for elders. In Korea, it is customary for young people and those of lower rank to follow the wishes and instructions of their elders without any objections.
2. Attitude towards marriage. Koreans consider marriage to be one of the most important event in life. Divorce, on the contrary, is interpreted as a huge and indelible shame.
3. Names. Among residents of the CIS countries, it is common practice for a wife to take her husband’s surname. In South Korea, they adhere to different traditions - the wife keeps her surname, but their common children inherit family name father.
4. Public quarrels. Angry and offended women are everywhere. This mixture turns out to be especially explosive if such a woman is also elderly. In South Korea, there are quite often these types of grandmothers who can show their dissatisfaction not only verbally, but also physically. No matter how offensive it may be, you cannot react to this, even if you are provoked. It's best to just step aside.
5. Handshake. People who are equal in status or who are on friendly terms use the familiar form of handshake. But if one of them is of lower rank or younger, then he is obliged to shake the outstretched hand with both hands. Quite often, the greeting is supplemented with a bow. The older and the higher in status a person is, the deeper they bow to him.
6. The boss is always right and cannot be denied. Surprisingly, this rule applies to almost all areas of life. You can't even refuse an offer to drink. Therefore, if the boss is an alcoholic, it is easier to change jobs than to give them a refusal.

South Korean traditions

The culture and traditions of South Korea are closely intertwined, because one follows the other. However, with the passage of time and globalization moving by leaps and bounds, any open society undergoes some kind of change. But there are fundamental beliefs that are revered at all times. In relation to South Korea, the following traditions, customs and:

1. Chere, or rite of remembrance of ancestors. According to Korean beliefs, after death a person’s soul goes to another world only after a change of 4 generations. And throughout this period he is a full-fledged member of the family, who, according to legend, cares for and protects the entire family from bad weather.
2. Hanbok, or traditional clothing. It is what Koreans wear on special days such as Lunar New Year, Harvest Day, or wedding ceremonies.
3. In relation to marriage, Koreans have skillfully created a model that combines both modern trends and traditional rituals. Today, a Korean wedding is divided into two parts: first there is a ceremony Western European type, with a white dress, veil and tuxedo for the groom, and then the newlyweds dress in traditional attire and go to a special room for lunch with their parents.
4. Sollal, or Lunar New Year. This holiday is celebrated on the first day of the lunar calendar. It is customary to celebrate it with family, remembering ancestors, preparing special dishes and dressing up in hanbok.
5. Chuseok, or Harvest Day. Koreans devote the fifteenth day of the eighth month according to the eastern calendar to remembering their ancestors and thanking the gods for food.

Note to tourists

In order not to get into trouble when communicating with a Korean, or to avoid incurring the wrath of law enforcement officials, a tourist in South Korea should remember a few rules:

1. Watch your gestures. Calling someone with your palm up or beckoning with your finger is considered offensive.
2. You should take off your shoes when entering a Korean home, but walking on the floor without socks is considered bad manners.
3. Public displays of affection between a couple, be it kissing or hugging, are considered indecent in Korean society, but friendly relations quite acceptable.
4. Smoking in in public places strictly prohibited, and enforcement of this rule is closely monitored by the police.
5. You cannot pierce food with chopsticks and leave them directly on the plate, especially when visiting - the hostess may take this as an insult.