Learn about the top five most important dates in South Korea
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| Tim: Hello everyone, thanks for joining us. This is Tim. |
| Debbie: Hello everyone. This is Debbie. Welcome to Lesson 9 of our All About Series. Tim, why don’t you tell us what our topic is today? |
| Tim: Today’s topic is about Korean holidays. |
| Debbie: Holidays? Great! I love holidays! |
| Tim: We all do! |
| Debbie: So what kinds of holidays are we focusing on today? |
| Tim: The “Top 5 important National holidays in Korea” |
| Debbie: Sounds great. Okay. Well, are you guys ready? Let’s begin – the “Top 5 important National holidays in Korea!” |
| Debbie: Okay, starting from #5, Tim? |
| Tim: Here is my hint! Please listen... |
| (the song of Parents’ day) |
| Debbie: 하하~~ that’s the song Korean kids would sing on “Parents’ Day” in Korea!!! |
| Tim: 딩.동.댕!! Yes, the #5 is “Parents’ Day” which is on May 8th! |
| Debbie: That’s actually very interesting to me… |
| Tim: Why is that? |
| Debbie: Because…in America, we have “Father’s Day” and “Mother’s Day” but not, “Parents’ Day!!!” |
| Tim: Oh, it's the same in Canada! Good point! What’s also different is that both “Father’s Day” and “Mother’s Day” are not National holidays, are they? |
| Debbie: No, both days are not national holidays. By the way, Tim, we just mentioned “Parents’ Day"... is there a “Children’s Day”? |
| Tim: Yes! Children’s Day is on the 5th of May. In fact, this is why they call May the "Month of Family". |
| Debbie: Ahh, that makes sense! Since it has Parents Day and Children's Day. Going back to Parents’ Day, what do Korean people usually do on that day? |
| Tim: We buy “carnation flowers” and put them on our parents’ jackets or blouses. |
| Debbie: “Wow! What a beautiful custom!” So, that’s a way for children to express their “thanks” to their parents. |
| Tim: Yes, exactly! |
| Debbie: That’s really beautiful! Okay, let’s move onto the next National Holiday. |
| Tim: Here is my hint. |
| (Play Christmas Carol) |
| Debbie: “That’s a Christmas Carol!” Oh~~ I see, #4 is “Christmas Day” right, Tim? |
| Tim: Yes, Christmas Day is #4 because there are many Christians in Korea. |
| Debbie: But Tim, Christmas Day in Korea is a bit different from Christmas Day in America or in Canada, right? |
| Tim: Yeah… |
| Debbie: Do you know what I mean? For example, many families in America would spend their time with their family whereas… |
| Tim: In Korea, many people would spend their time with their friends… |
| Debbie: Yes, it gets so crazy on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day... I mean… most shopping malls and restaurants are packed with hundreds and hundreds of people on those days. |
| Tim: Yes, that’s true. Also, please note that many things might be more expensive just on those two days in Korea. |
| Debbie: Yeah…I can understand, but it can be a bit overwhelming… |
| Tim: I’m with you on that one, Debbie. |
| Debbie: Okay, well… What about the next holiday? |
| Tim: Top #3 National Holidays in Korea is “New Year’s Day!” |
| Debbie: Yup, on January 1st! This is the day when people turn the pages of the calendar to the New Year… |
| Tim: Yes, and you also“turn one year older!” |
| Debbie: What? “Get one year older?” So…what you are saying is that “New Year’s Day” is everybody’s birthday in Korea? |
| Tim: 하하~~ You could say that! Basically, it’s a tradition. Everybody gets one year older on New Year's Day. Of course, everyone has their own birthday as well too. |
| Debbie: Oh~~ I see… By the way Tim, don’t they also celebrate “Lunar New Year’s Day” like China? |
| Tim: You will see... Please keep listening to find out more! |
| Debbie: Okay then. Next, the #2 national holiday in Korea, Tim? |
| (Play the song of “thanksgiving”) |
| Tim: Did you hear that song, Debbie? |
| Debbie: Yes, the name of song is “강강술래” which Korean people traditionally used to sing on “Korean Thanksgiving Day”. |
| Tim: Yes, you are correct! #2 is 추석 - “Korean Thanksgiving Day”. |
| Debbie: Traditionally 추석 “Korean Thanksgiving Day” is celebrated to give thanks for the harvest of that year, right Tim? |
| Tim: Yes, it’s a big national holiday in Korea. |
| Debbie: Many people get 3 to 5 days or even up to a week off, so that people can go back to their hometowns and meet their parents and relatives. So... I don’t think it is a good idea to drive a car during that time. |
| Tim: Good point! Please avoid driving on 추석 at all costs. |
| Debbie: By the way, what do Korean people do on that day with their families? |
| Tim: Many families hold a memorial service… |
| Debbie: For their ancestors? |
| Tim: Yes! And we make and eat 송편 together. |
| Debbie: 송편 is a "traditional rice-cake sweet or semi-sweet fillings, such as sesame seeds and honey, sweet red bean paste, and chestnut paste", right Tim? |
| Tim: Yes! |
| Debbie: So…basically, on 추석 “Korean Thanksgiving Day”, many Korean families get together and hold a memorial service, where everybody expresses their “thanks” and “gratitude” toward their ancestors, and eat 송편 “traditional rice-cakes” together..? Am I right, Tim? |
| Tim: Yes, you are good at summing it up, 하하~~! |
| Debbie: Okay, we only have one more left. |
| Tim: The #1 national holiday of Korea is… |
| (Jigen, we need sound-effect of drum here) |
| Debbie: (신나서 getting elated!) “Oh I know! Me, me, me!” |
| Tim: Okay, Debbie. What is it? |
| Debbie: “Lunar New Year’s Day!” |
| Tim: Correct! We call it 설날 “Lunar New Year’s Day!”. |
| Debbie: I heard that "Lunar New Year’s Day" is the most important day in China. |
| Tim: Yes, it’s the same in Korea. |
| Debbie: Hmm... so, what’s the exact date for “Lunar New Year’s Day”? |
| Tim: It differs every year. Normally it’s held in February. |
| Debbie: What do Korean people do on that day? |
| Tim: Well, it's very much like 추석 “Korean Thanksgiving Day”... |
| Debbie: So, many families go back to their hometowns and spend some quality time with their family, then? |
| Tim: Right. Second, they hold a memorial service for their ancestors wishing for a happy New Year. |
| Debbie: I know what’s next after the ritual…The children would then bow to their grand-parents, parents and relatives, which is called 세배 (sebae). |
| Tim: Right! Then they receive some pocket money, which is called 세뱃돈 (sebaedon). I used to collect a lot of 세뱃돈 when I was little but, not anymore… |
| Debbie: Aww yeah, too bad~ oh, and let’s not forget to mention the food! They also eat something like “rice cake soup”, right? |
| Tim: Yes, we call that 떡국. Yes, lastly we eat 떡국 together. 떡국 is so yummy! |
| Debbie: I like to eat 떡국 as well…Okay, well let’s briefly wrap up today’s topic. The #5 National Holidays is |
| Tim: 어버이 날 “Parent’s Day” |
| Debbie: Number 4 is… |
| Tim: 크리스마스 “Christmas Day”. |
| Debbie: Number 3 is… |
| Tim: 신정 “New Year’s Day”. |
| Debbie: Number 2 is… |
| Tim: 추석 “Korean Thanksgiving Day”. |
| Debbie: And the #1 National Holiday in Korea is… |
| Tim: 설날 “Lunar New Year’s Day!” |
| Debbie: That’s right! Okay. Well that’s all for today’s lesson. Thanks for listening and thank you Tim for being with us. |
| Tim: 천만에요! “You’re welcome!” 그럼 다음시간에 또 만나요. |
| Debbie: See you all next time! |
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