Once again, I headed out to 조계사 (Jogyesa) this year to celebrate Buddha’s birthday. In Korean, this day is called 석가탄신일 (Seokga Tansinil), meaning “Buddha’s birthday” or 부처님 오신 날 (Bucheonim Osin Nal) meaning “the day when the Buddha came.” In China and Korea, it is celebrated on the eighth day of the fourth month in the lunar calendar. The date varies from year to year, but it typically lands in … Continue reading 석가탄신일: Celebrating Buddha’s Birthday
In Korea, following February 14th (Valentine’s Day) and March 14th (White Day), is the unofficial holiday “celebrated” on April 14th known as Black Day. While both Valentine’s Day and White Day focus on the romance shared between couples wrapped in matching couples clothes, spoon-feeding each other food and flaunting the sheer joy of NOT being single, Black day is a special little lonely day for … Continue reading Black Day & 홍콩반점0410 (Hong Kong Banjum 0410)
Buddha’s birthday or 석가탄신일 fell on May 17th this year. For the entire month of May, Buddhist temples are decorated in beautiful colorful paper lanterns. You can actually find lanterns lined along many streets in Korea in celebration of this day as part of the Lotus Lantern Festival. Because this is considered a national holiday, government offices many other places of work are closed for the … Continue reading Happy Birthday Buddha!
Exactly one month after Valentine’s Day comes the holiday known as White Day. While guys get all the love, attention and chocolate on Valentine’s Day, March 14th is a time for them to return the favor to their lovely ladies. Unlike the chocolate inspired deliciousness that is Valentine’s Day, White Day focuses more on the sugary goodness of candy. Quite frankly I prefer chocolate to … Continue reading White Day 2013
As fall begins to fade into winter, that merriest time of year is upon us once again: Pepero Day!!! Why? What were you thinking? Last year, I prepared a cute little gift basket for my boyfriend, complete with a plush and homemade pepero. Since Pepero Day landed on a Sunday this year, and a very gloomy stormy one at that, I thought it would be … Continue reading 11.11
I love holidays along with any excuse to do something out of the ordinary. Thankfully Korea is full of random holidays and one is just a day away, Peppero (빼빼로) Day! This year Pepero Day is extra super duper special because it lands on November 11, 2011 (11.11.11), thus making it Millennium Pepero Day, a date which only appears on the calendar once every 1,000 years. First you may be wondering, … Continue reading A Cookie for the Millennium
Red . . . the color that everyone eagerly searches for on their calendar here in Korea. With the exception of the obvious Saturday and Sunday, Red days mean one thing, Time off! So, why call them red days? Simply put, all the national holidays on every Korean calendar are marked in red. Thought provoking I know. It’s important to remember that being an Asian … Continue reading Red (Day)zed
