Traditionally, the Korean people have significantly celebrated the First Full Moon Day, the 15th day of the first month by the lunar calendar.
According to the custom, celebrations last from January 14 to 15 by the lunar calendar, involving rituals, cooking and playing of folk games.
The rituals reflected the simple desires of the Korean people.
That evening they would view the rising full moon on mountains, hills, bridges or pavilions, praying for the year’s good harvest or good fortunes for their families. They then played together, holding torches out in the fields. This folk game was designed to kill barnyard grass, weed seeds and harmful insects in the ridges between fields that had wintered. It is said that this game was helpful for that year's farming. Early morning women went out to fetch water from the well when the chicken began to crow.
In addition, they played such folk games as tug of war, carts fighting, kite flying and pinwheel turning.
On this day they shared foods such as ogokpap (boiled rice mixed with four other cereals), medicinal rice, pokssam (boiled rice wrapped in vegetable leaves), side dishes made with nine dried herbs and noodles.
They preferred ogokpap partly because it is good for health and mainly because they aspired to the year’s good harvest.
On the previous day, they ate noodles for lunch, which reflect their desire for long life.
Like this, the Korean people significantly spent the holiday with the ardent desire for good luck and bumper harvest of the year.
The day is still celebrated in the DPRK as a folk holiday.
The First Full Moon Day and the custom of enjoying the full moon are on the national intangible heritage list.
This year it falls on February 12.
Kim Wi Hyok
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