In South Korea, After Children's Day Concludes, May 8th is For the Celebration of Parents

In South Korea, May 5th is a day dedicated to the celebration and appreciation of all the Children in the country, but just three days later it’s the parents turn for some celebration.

Each year on May 8th, people across South Korea celebrate and honor their parents. Though the holiday is not considered a national public holiday by the South Korean government, it is widely celebrated across the country and many people take this day off to be with their families. The holiday is purposed to commemorate all of the efforts parents make when raising their children, physical, social, emotional, and psychological. 

On Children’s Day, parents shower their children with love and affection to show how much they appreciate them and how special they are. So on May 8th, it is parents’ turn to be showered with love and shown appreciation. Parents make tremendous sacrifices for their children, so this holiday is the time for children to give back. 

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Today, to celebrate and mark the special holiday, children will set aside the entire day to spend it with their parents- something teens rarely take the time to do. Not only do families spend the day together, but the activities they do are specifically ones that the parents enjoy. Children also give their parents gifts and flowers to demonstrate their gratitude and love. Carnations and roses are the most widely chosen flower for Parents’ Day, to mark the importance of the holiday. 

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South Korea Also Has a Holiday for Celebrating Children

May 5th is not only a special day in Japan, but it is a public holiday in South Korea as well. And like Japan, South Korea also dubs May 5th as the day for the celebration of children nationwide. 

May 5th was designated as Children’s Day by the government in 1961 after The Children’s Welfare law was written into the constitution. It was thought of as a movement to respect children and look after their wellbeing. It wasn’t until the 1970s that the day became thought of as a public holiday and a nationwide time for celebration. It also serves as a day to honor adults who have dedicated their time to improving the lives of children in Korea. 

Dr. Bang is the man who originally proposed the idea of having a holiday dedicated to children. He was a writer in the 1920s and was also responsible for pioneering studies about ways to intervene and help children in need. During the 1920s he started an organization called “Saek Dong Hoi” with his friends to contribute to his cause. He believed having a day dedicated to children could be used as a way to instill a sense of independence and national pride in children. It could also be used to highlight the dignity of children and show adults their need for care and respect. 

Today, each year on May 5th, parents across South Korea will shower their children will gifts and attention to show them how loved and special they are. It is not uncommon for children to be taken to museums, movie theaters, zoos, parks and other places that children would choose to go to as a treat. Various towns and cities across South Korea will also host fun events for children and their families to partake in on this exciting day. 

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How Asian Countries Commemorate Valentine’s Day

Just as how many countries around the world celebrate love and romance on February 14th, several Asian countries have their own unique ways of acknowledging the special holiday. 

In America, when most people think of Valentine’s  Day, one of the first things that comes to mind is chocolate. Cause what would the romantic holiday be without some chocolate right? Well, many South Koreans would definitely agree with this notion. In South Korea it is traditional for chocolate to be given to loved ones on the 14th of February, however, unlike America where the men traditionally give the gifts (not always!), in South Korea it is the women who are responsible for wooing the men on this day. The men then return the favor a month later on a different holiday, known as White Day. When compared to other countries, such as Japan, it has been said that Korean women are known for the high amounts of chocolate they shower on the men in their life on Valentine’s Day.

The Japanese version of Valentine’s Day also centers around chocolate, (because what else matters, right?!). Another similarity to South Korea is that the women are also the typical gift givers on this day. Unlike the United States, gifts of flowers, cards, or dinner dates are not terribly common and almost all of the gift giving focuses on chocolate. Another difference from the United States is that the gifts are not just giving to one’s romantic interests, but friends, family, and even coworkers. The amount of chocolate given to the man signifies how much he means to the woman and how important he is to her. Many female friends will exchange chocolate between them, a candy called “tomo-choko”, tomo literally meaning friend. But don’t worry, women aren’t the only ones who do the gift giving for Valentine’s Day. Men are expected to return the favor to whomever gave them chocolates by giving them a gift that is twice the cost of the chocolates. So everyone gets to feel special for Valentine’s Day. The romantic date night that many Westerners associate the holiday with is actually celebrated by many Japanese couples on Christmas Eve, a long standing tradition. Valentine’s Day wasn’t introduced to the country till 1936, as an advertising ploy to foreigners, but since then the celebration has really caught on. 

Unlike the rest of the world, Chinese couples prefer to celebrate their version of Valentine’s Day on a day other than February 14th. Chinese Valentine’s Day, also known as Qi Qiao Jie, occurs on the seventh day of the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Chocolates, candies, cards, and flowers are not typically exchanged on this day, but there are still many other romantic customs and gestures associated with their most romantic holiday. 

In the past, colorful "shrines" made of paper, fresh fruit, and flowers are put up in as a tribute to the first two lovers of Qi Qiao Jie. There are two legends which surround the origins of the holiday, both involving the position of the stars on the seventh day of the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar. Like most of the Chinese holidays and festivals, there are many myths and legends, and a deep history behind this celebration of love. 

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Countries in Asia Know How to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Too

It might not be the first places you think of- but countries in Asia have some pretty incredible St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Although, there is not a high Irish population throughout Asia, on St. Patrick’s Day everyone is Irish right? The holiday isn’t big everywhere in Asia but there are a few places that really get into the spirit of things and would be a great place to spend the holiday if you’re ever around the area in March!

Seoul, South Korea

It is a fairly recent addition to the list of Korean festivals, but since 2001 the Irish Association of Korea has been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with an annual parade that hosts up to 15,000 attendees. It is complete with everything you would expect for a St. Patty’s Day bagpipes, Irish dancing, Celtic music, lots of green, and of course lots of beer! The Koreans love any excuse for a good party!

Tokyo, Japan

This may come as a surprise to you, but the Japanese have celebrated and embraced Irish culture for quite some time, and this includes- of course- St. Patrick’s Day. Each year, Tokyo hosts an amazing parade bringing 30,000 people to the streets to celebrate and several thousand parade participants. And like in Seoul, lots of green, music, food, and alcohol can be expected!

Singapore

Due to it’s strong associations with the British Isles, Singapore also has a connection to Irish heritage and with it, St. Patrick’s Day. In addition to a spectacular parade, Singapore also hosts an annual St. Patrick’s Day Ball. The celebrations stretch over a three day period. First begins the ball on the eve before the big day. Then on the 17th, the streets fill with

green for the parade. And the fun continues on the 18th with street parties outside of local Irish pubs and Irish Festivals.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

In previous years, Kuala Lumpur has had parties and festivals that have reached over 8,000 attendees. But Malaysia is making our list because of their public determination to host Asia’s largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade, even making an online pledge to make it into the Guinness Book of World Records. And they take it one step further, wanting to make not just the 17th the day of celebrations- but all of March!

South Korea Shows Support for Kim Yu-na After Olympic Figure Skating Defeat

South Korea has always been known for their intense nationalism, and their sporting events are no exception. Which is why it was no surprise that Koreans reacted to their beloved figure skater, Kim Yu-na’s, loss to a Russian teenager in Sochi with anger and disappointment. 

People reacted to this defeat with anger saying Russia had cheated South Korea out of the gold medal because of their small size. A well-known author claimed he will remember the 2014 Winter Olympics as the “Suchi” Olympics, the Korean word for humiliation. A petition was even signed by 1.9 million people, mostly South Koreans, requesting that an investigation be done by the International Skating Union to look into the calls made by the judges. 

So why was South Korea so up in arms over this particular defeat? It has been proposed that there was so much emotion behind the loss because Kim Yu-na was so admired by the people and seen as a “perfect heroine” for her nation. Her story of coming from humble beginnings, beginning her skating career at 6-year-old on an old rink, to rise up and become an Olympic athlete, represents everything that postwar South Korea feels they stand for. In addition to that, Ms. Kim was the recipient of the Olympic gold medal in figure skating in 2010, a victory Koreans felt deserved to be repeated this year. Beginning after the Korean War, South Korea used nationalism as a method to restore pride and unity within the country during the times of severe economic hardship, and sports became seen as a pathway towards achieving that sense of national pride. This has led to a deep connection self-worth for many Koreans. 

between international sports achievements and

But despite the blow, the initial uproar has seemingly subsided and people have stepped out to show their support for Kim Yu-na. The figure skater herself has remained classy and put-together through the whole thing, refraining from any public criticisms about her defeat or about her opponent. She has only spoken up to assure everyone she is pleased with her silver medal and relieved about some of the weight of national pressure being taken off her shoulders, commenting, “I am happy that it’s over. Happy that I did well.” 

Good for Ms. Kim! 

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Marriage Agencies Help North Korean Refugees Adjust to Life in South Korea

Each year, North Koreans risk their lives and leave everything they know to defect to the South, and many of these 26,000 refugees are women. Due to cracking down on the boarder by the North Korean dictator, Kim Jong Un, the last two years have seen a drop of refugees by almost half of what it was in 2011. Even with sharp decrease in North Koreans arriving into South Korean, 3 of every 4 have still been women. 

These women leave their homes and make the treacherous journey through the Chinese border to South Korea in search of a better life. And once the long process of resettling is over, the realization that they are without friends or family in a brand new place becomes overwhelming. For this reason, one of the first things a North Korean woman looks for upon arrival is the love and companionship of a South Korean husband. 

Dating and marriage agencies have been a big part of Korean culture and business for some time now. Due to the number of single North Korean women pouring into the country, marriage agencies specifically geared towards helping North Korean women have become quite popular. 

The founder of Namnam Buknyeo, one of the most sought out marriage agencies, Hong Seung-Woo, says one of his companies main goals is to assist North Korean women in their resettlement process and help them to be as happy as possible in their new home. He adds, “To do that, they need to build a network that can support them.” 

Namnam Buknyeo tries to make this possible by servicing North Korean women for free and having a policy that all male clients must be screened before they can be paired with women. Any men who are disabled, already married, or unemployed are not able to register. 

Since Namnam Buknyeo’s opening in 2006, it has been responsible for 450 marriages. Hong Seung-Woo can express much confidence when talking about his company’s success, and all he has to do is use his own marriage as an example! Mr. Hong met his wife, Ju Jeong-ok, after she registered for his company, looking for a partner after coming to South Korea in 2012. He claims after just one date, he had fallen for her kindness, good nature, and beauty and was sure he would marry her! 

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Christmas in Asia: How Koreans Celebrated the Holiday

Although Korea is officially Buddhist, today about 30% of the South Korean population is Christian. Korea has become known as the only East Asian country to recognize Christmas as a national holiday. Despite many similarities to how Christmas is celebrated in the West, Christian Koreans still put their own cultural spin on the beloved holiday. 

Christmas, or Sung Tan Jul as it is called in Korea, is considered primarily a religious holiday, so although some families do put up a Christmas tree and exchange presents, most of the celebration revolves around attending mass on Christmas Eve or Christmas day. 

Santa Harabujee is very popular among Korean children, handing out presents to children wearing a red or blue suit. Around the holiday season, many stores employ Santas to give out chocolates and candies to shoppers. Some families celebrate Christmas dinner with gatherings at the home but traditionally many Korean families prefer to go out for dinner. Christmas is seen as a holiday for love and romance, making it one of the busiest times of the year for restaurants. 

A major difference that sets Christmas in Korea apart from Christmas in the West is that

much of the time, Christmas represents a time of celebration with friends and lovers, especially for younger people, while New Years is the time for family. Presents are exchanged on Christmas Eve and rather than receiving piles of presents, it is customary for people to each receive one present, often times a gift of money. 

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10 Festivals In Asia That Will Change Your Life (Part One of Two)

Various countries across Asia are known for their delicious food, breath taking architecture, and innovative tecnhnology- but many people aren't aware of another special feature these countries have to offer. 

They are also home to hundreds of festivals and parades each year, ranging from spiritual and ritualistic festivals to food and music festivals. People travel from all over the world to take part in these fun and exciting events and to witness Asian culture at its most pure.

Every festival has something unique to bring to the table, but there are 10 of them that have something you absolutely cannot miss. So whether you are a college student in your early twenties or in your mid fifties, the following festivals should be on everyone's bucket list. 

1. Naadam Festival

This first festival is for the sports lovers! A spectacle sometimes referred to as "Mongolia's Olympics", covers all the bases of the nation's sports, including horseback riding, archery, and wrestling. This festival, which takes place over the summer, is purely for entertainment and purposed to represent the joy of the harvest. 

2. Full Moon Party

If this event keeps popping up- it must be something I need to add to my to-do list! Like I wrote about in one of my previous articles, the full moon party is a monthly event in Thailand where thousands of people from all different corners of the world gather to party, drink, eat, and dance to music under the full moon. And according to STA Travel, it is an experience that everyone at some point needs to have. 

3. Lantern Festival

Ah, another one of our favorites! Lanterns are a decoration seen used in many Asian celebrations, due to their beauty and cultural significance. But imagine the beauty of dozens of lanterns in the sky and replace it with thousands of lanterns and you have a slight idea of how incredible China's yearly Lantern Festival is. On the night of February 13, head to Taiwan, or even Shanghai and Hangzhou, to witness one of the spectacular finale to the Chinese New Year celebration. 

4. Mud Festival 

If you aren't afraid to get pretty dirty, the mud festival is the perfect way to let loose and have some child-like fun during your time in Asia! If you're thinking to yourself mud wrestling isn't really your thing so you probably wouldn't like it- stop right there! In addition to mud wrestling, there are also countless activities for those looking to have a relaxing time, including a giant mud tub and a mud massage zone. The Boryeong mud of South Korea is known for it's healing properties and benefits, contributing to why it is the festival with

the highest international attendance. For those looking to get the full experience, join in events such as  mud sliding, mud swimming, and a mud marine course for the adventurous. Wow, that's a lot of mud! 

5. Ice Festival

Despite it's freezing temperatures, winter is considered one of the best times to visit Harbin- and trust me, being a little chilly would be well worth it to be a part of the annual Ice Festival. This winter event is thought of as one of the most exciting and romantic destinations on earth, where you can see and do things that unique to that area

of China. Stay in a super cool ice hotel, tour the safari-style Siberian tiger park, go dog sledding, drink in the ice bars of Snow World, or stick with the traditional- skating, skiing, or riding a snow mobile. And don't forget the best events of the season- the Ice Lantern show and Snow Sculpture Art Expo, where you get to witness the creating and displaying of some of the world's most jaw dropping ice and snow sculptures. The annual festival begins after Christmas and lasts until the beginning of February, so be sure to start planning your trip! 

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Keep an eye out for the next 5 Asian Festivals that will change your life in the part two segment!

Happy Easter from Asia!

In the west, when one is asked to list traditions that follow the beloved Easter holiday, symbols like eggs, chocolate, and the Easter bunny often come to mind. But if you were to ask Christians in Asian countries including South Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong, they would lack any understanding of such traditions. 

It is an interesting concept that Christmas receives such attention yet Easter almost none- this is most likely due to the heavily commercialized aspects of Christmas, where media coverage of the Easter season is limited to department stores advertising new clothes and candy stores selling chocolate eggs. Despite half the population being Christian in South Korea, you would still be hard pressed to find any kind of tribute to Easter when walking the streets of the towns and cities. 

However, take a trip down to China and it will be a completely different story. The passing of Spring is a time that holds a tremendous amount of significance to the Chinese, and Easter falls during this time- thus making it of importance to their culture. 

The three symbols associated with Easter in the west are also found in Chinese Easter traditions, the egg, the rabbit, and the baby chick. Painting and decorating eggs is a big part of the western celebration of Easter that is also found in China around this time of year. It is considered to be an art form and is taken quite seriously.

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The eggs are first drained in preparation to be painted, then images of women, scenes, and other beautiful images are carefully drawn on. It is also custom to use jade and wood to carve a dragon's egg, which is then given to children to represent growth and change. 

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