Korean traditions

Traditions Korean people definitely influenced the emergence of crafts. Products of Korean masters are famous for their quality, subtlety and elegance of workmanship.

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

All proportions were observed. Masters invented all new details and ways of their fastening. All metal parts for wooden furniture were made of bronze, copper and oiled iron.

Before today pieces of furniture of the 18th century have been preserved: tables, 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 metalworking. Products made of gold, silver and bronze, Jewelry, preserved to this day, do not cease to amaze with their sophistication. The products that were made by the masters of the kingdom of Silla cause the greatest admiration.

Printing is another page in the history of Korean culture. In 1234, typesetting came into use. In Europe, such a phenomenon appeared only after 200 years. A document made using this font dates from 1377. Now it is kept in the National Library of Paris.

Also, the manufacture of cult things is quite developed, which began to spread with the flourishing of Buddhism. Cult objects include: incense burners, gongs, lamps, etc. Shrines for storing the ashes of monks cremated after death deserve special attention. They often took the form of a pagoda.

Much is known about the manufacture of bronze bells. They reached sizes from 30 cm to several meters. These bells had a unique design and a special long lingering sound, which shows the art of metal processing, well studied by Korean craftsmen.
Many Korean arts and crafts continue to exist to this day. The arts and crafts of the Koreans are developed and passed down 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 a working people. But no one disdains holidays and memorable dates, but quite the contrary. Since the country uses two calendars, holiday dates quite a few. Not all holidays have kept their ancient customs. But the two main holidays of the year, namely the Lunar New Year and Chuseok, continue to be celebrated as they should.

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

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

For the purpose of entertainment, kites are launched into the sky, a rope is pulled. There is also a folk board game with sticks - yut norii.

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.

According to tradition, one of the main dishes on the table is tokguk - soup with rice dumplings in meat broth. To eat teokguk means to "eat" another year. Other traditional food: bindaetok (bean pancakes), dumplings, sujeonggwa (cinnamon tea), sikhae (rice brew), 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, in the family circle. traditional clothing- habok. According to custom, they set the table for the ancestors, perform certain ceremonies. They put on the table products collected in a new crop - chestnuts, persimmons, apples, Korean pears, yubba.

Be sure to sculpt 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 not like an old wedding ceremony, nor a Western wedding. its new traditions have developed quite recently, in the fifties, but everyone in Korea follows them.

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

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

The wedding is usually scheduled for the daytime, and most strive for it to take place on Sunday or on Saturday afternoon, that is, after hours, when all invitees can come to the celebration. Some weddings also take place on normal working days, but this is quite rare. Therefore, the Ministry of Social Security in 1996 reduced the price for the use of "yesikzhang" on weekdays by 50%. These prices, like many others, are tightly controlled by the state in Korea.

Before the wedding, the bride visits the hairdresser and puts on her wedding dress. Since the 1950s in Korea, luxurious white dresses, almost indistinguishable from Western designs, have come into fashion and become an almost obligatory part of the wedding ritual (including non-church ones). Most brides re-sew the dress. The groom at the wedding is usually dressed in an expensive Western-style suit, sometimes even in a tailcoat. Tail coat, like an expensive thing, but in ordinary life not needed, almost never bought, but rented for the duration of the wedding, but a suit for such an occasion can be purchased.

Shortly before the appointed time for the wedding, guests begin to arrive at Yesikzhang. There is a special “waiting room” for the bride and her closest friends, other guests go inside immediately upon arrival, while the men are waiting for the ceremony to begin directly 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 to the wedding, including very distant ones, colleagues, former classmates, so usually there are several hundred, and in some cases several thousand guests at the wedding.

A wedding is a very expensive event, but it is still cheaper than it might seem at first glance. To reduce the burden of expenses helps the custom, which requires all those invited to bring envelopes with money to the wedding, which are given as gifts to the young. “Thing” gifts are almost never given at Korean weddings. The amounts that are given in this way can be very different, but in most cases the envelope contains several tens of thousands of won (10,000 won - about $ 8). Immediately upon arrival at Yesikzhang, guests put envelopes with money on a tray set at the entrance to the hall and sign on a special list. By tradition, all envelopes must be inscribed, so that the hosts always know how generous this or that guest turned out to be.

About half an hour or an hour before the ceremony, the young ones appear. First, the bride goes to the "waiting room", where she puts herself in order. Often, even before arriving at Yesikjang, young people in full dress go to one of the few city parks to take outdoor photos there. Generally speaking, during the wedding, the newlyweds are constantly photographed, and luxuriously decorated wedding album is in any Korean house. Of course, along with photographers, videographers are often invited to the wedding.

A few minutes before the start of the ceremony, 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 that, the actual marriage begins. The mother of the groom and the mother of the bride are the first to enter the hall. 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 that, they bow to each other and to the guests and sit in their places of honor in the front row.

Next, the groom enters the hall. Behind him, the bride appears, who is 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» Mendelssohn, and another «Wedding March» - Wagner. In accordance with ancient traditions, which have passed into the modern ritual, the bride, passing through the hall, should not raise her eyes. She walks around the hall with her head bowed low and her eyes downcast, with her whole appearance depicting meekness, which in ancient Confucian times was considered main advantage Korean woman.

After that, the ritual manager approaches the young people - a figure who plays a very important role in the wedding ceremony. It is customary to invite some respected person who occupies a prominent position in society to this role. A major businessman, official, political figure, university professor, etc. Usually, the families of young people tend 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 and give the necessary orders. The leader 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. This speech is considered climax the official part of the celebration. First, the ritual manager invites the young people to take an oath that they are ready to live life in love and harmony. Young people express their consent with a short one-syllable "E" ("Yes"). After that, the steward solemnly proclaims them husband and wife. In the rest of the speech, the manager praises the young, talks about the virtues of the bride and groom, wishes them happiness in the beginning family life.

After that, it's time for greetings. First, the young, 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 that, the young people leave the hall together (this time to the sounds of Mendelssohn's "Wedding March"). This is where the main part of the marriage ceremony, which thus lasts no more than half an hour, ends. At the exit from the hall, photography begins again. The first photo is taken together with the steward of the ritual, the second - together with the parents, the next - together with relatives, colleagues and fellow practitioners.

After the end of the official part, all guests go to a gala dinner, which can be held either in the banquet restaurant at the "yesikzhan", or somewhere nearby. However, the young are not present at the banquet. After it starts, they go to a special room "pyebeksil", in which the young people greet the parents and relatives of the husband, who have specially gathered there. For this ceremony, both the bride and groom take off their Western attire and change into a traditional Korean wedding dress. A table with refreshments is also installed in the room, the obligatory element of which is the fruits of jujuba (jujube).

The bride and groom, in turn, in order of seniority, approach each of the relatives and, having made a ritual bow before 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 earth and one bow from the waist. Other older relatives are greeted with one earthly bow and one waist bow.

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

After meeting with the husband's relatives, the young usually go to the banquet hall, where they greet the guests. Immediately after the wedding, the young go on a honeymoon trip.

This is how life 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 was the rites on the occasion of 100 days from the moment of his birth. These days, 100 days since birth (“baek il”, which, in fact, means “100 days”) are not celebrated so magnificently, but in times of huge infant mortality, the fact that a newborn has safely overcome the most dangerous period of his life, was the basis for joy. In the event that on this day the child was sick, the holiday was not celebrated so as not to invite misfortune.

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

Much more important is "tol", the first birthday of a child who is one year old. And in our days "tol" is celebrated with exceptional pomp. Traditionally, the hero of the occasion, dressed in a bright suit of colored silk, specially tailored for this occasion, sits next to his parents, importantly watching the ritual in his honor. The culmination of the whole festival is the fortune-telling about the future of the child, which, albeit in a somewhat modernized form, remains popular even now, although they treat it, of course, with much less seriousness than in the old days.

In accordance with this rite, 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 threads, a book, a brush for writing, ink, money, rice, noodles. In addition, for girls, scissors are placed on the table, and for boys, a dagger or an arrow. The kid should go to the table and take the item that he likes. If he picks up a thread or noodles, then this means that longevity awaits him, the choice of a brush for writing or a book portends a successful bureaucratic career, rice or money is chosen by those who expect wealth, the fruits of juzhub symbolize numerous and famous offspring, a dagger or an arrow chosen by the boy means that he will become a famous warrior, and the scissors chosen by the girl portend 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 "roofing" it is customary to give children's things, money, as well as gold rings. Often the family after the celebration of "roofing" turns out to be the owner of quite a large number such rings, which are considered as a reserve accumulation of 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. The traditions of celebrating birthdays are quite mixed these days. On the one hand, a significant part of Koreans celebrate them according to the Western tradition.

Often a birthday is celebrated in a restaurant, and "buffets" are especially popular, which in general serve as one of the most favorite places for family celebrations in Korea. An indispensable accessory of the festive table is a cake, often of considerable size and very beautiful. In general, for most Koreans, who are generally indifferent to sweets, cake is associated exclusively with two holidays - happy birthday and 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 Koreans of middle and older age, as well as a very significant part of the youth, celebrate their birthday not according to the Western, but according to the traditional lunar calendar, so this holiday falls on different dates in different years.

In the past, in the traditional Korean society, 3~4 generations lived together in one family. In those days, people preferred to live in a large family and have many children.

However, when in the 1960s and 70s Korea industrialization and urbanization began to take place at a rapid pace, as well as child birth restrictions appeared, the culture in the country began to change, and since the 1980s, one Korean family has an average of two children or less.

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 making son and daughter equal heirs in the division of property.

Young married couples now mostly live apart from their parents. Therefore, families now usually consist only of parents and children.

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 who marry do not take the husband's surname, but the children will take the father's surname.

Marriage

Koreans consider marriage the most milestone in a person's life, and they are extremely negative about divorce, as a manifestation of disrespect not only for each other, but also for parents - although, despite this, the number of divorces for recent times is growing at a rapid pace.

A wedding today is somewhat different from what it used to be. First, a regular Western-style ceremony is held, in a church or city hall, the bride is dressed in white wedding dress and the groom in a tuxedo, and then the traditional ceremony follows, already in another room, where the bride and groom, dressed in Korean national costumes and following the tradition, bow to their parents.

A Korean wedding is, first of all, a union of families, and not just a decision of two people to create a new unit of society. It just so happened that in this country, young people rarely choose a mate for themselves, in most cases the father makes the decision for them. In some families, the newlyweds do not even know each other until the moment of marriage. From time immemorial, the dominance of patriarchy has been noted in Korean families, and the head of the family has been and remains an indisputable authority for the household. And rich men can now afford to have several wives and, accordingly, several families.

wedding ceremonies in Korea , despite the progressive views of modern youth, still have many forms and a huge number of rules and recommendations. A few weeks before the celebration, matchmakers from the man's side come to visit the woman's parents with gifts and offerings, by that time all her acquaintances and friends also gather in the bride's house.

This ritual is similar to the dress rehearsal for the upcoming marriage. It is called "chenchi" in Korean. The tradition of the mini-wedding "chenchi" in Korea has undergone significant changes over the past ten years, and now they bear little resemblance to the old action, however, newfangled European trends have not taken root among this people. Around the middle of the last century, it was decided that "chenchi" from now on will be held only in daylight hours day, on the last day of the week. On rare occasions, rather exceptional ones, on Saturday mornings. The number for the wedding is chosen carefully, guided by ancient knowledge of esotericism and the lunar calendar

Chere (rite of remembrance of ancestors).

According to Korean belief, the soul of a person 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 the Koreans perform a special ceremony in honor of him Chere on Seollal ( New Year on Eastern calendar), Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving), and also on the day of death anniversary. Koreans also believe that their life here in this world can be happy and prosperous if their ancestors bless them.

During the period of Japanese colonial rule, the tradition of holding Jongmyo later began to fade, and in 1946 it was interrupted. But in 1969 the ceremony was held again, and since 1971 it has been regularly held once a year on the first Sunday of May. Today this event is very popular among both Koreans and guests of the country. So, several thousand people came to watch the ceremony, which was held quite recently - on May 3, 2009.

Traditionally, the ritual was performed by the wang, the crown prince and his brothers, as well as other members of the royal family (but only men). They were also helped by some courtiers who had a high status. Today, the ritual is performed by the descendants of the royal ancestral Li clan of Jeonju.

Language of the body

When you call a person to you, put your palm down and wave it, moving all your fingers. Never call anyone with your palm up, and even more so with one finger - this is how Koreans call dogs.

You can not step over the elder if he lies and rests, especially in the head area.

You can’t lie down if the elder is eating at this time.

Sitting at the table, you can not take a spoon before the elder.

You need to give something to the elder and take it from him with both hands. In general, this gesture is universal for all occasions when you give or receive something from an older person or position. For example, a store clerk always takes money and gives change with only two hands. According to the rules of etiquette, this gesture should be accompanied by a slight bow.

It is a common custom to prohibit smoking in the presence of the "senior", even if the "younger" himself is in years. If the "younger" drinks alcohol at the same table with the "older", bringing the glass to his mouth, he usually turns away and covers it with his hands.

It is considered rude to pour oneself. So you deprive the owner of the table of the opportunity to show hospitality. When you are poured, a glass should be held in your right hand, and with your left hand hold your right. It's the same when you pour: the bottle is in your right hand, left hand holds the right.

In Korea, it is considered offensive to blow your nose in public.

At the same time, it is not at all shameful to slurp at the table. So you show the owner that everything is very tasty.

It is unacceptable to stick chopsticks into food at the table. This is a gesture related to death.

If you are talking to someone, keep your hands in sight. Hiding them behind your back or in your pockets is indecent.

In Korea, it is not customary to call a person with an upturned hand or beckon with a finger. In Korea, dogs are usually called with such gestures. To call a person, this must be done with the hand with the palm facing down.

There is also a purely Korean gesture showing a good disposition towards you. This is a friendly gesture. Fold a heart with your hands (above your head, for example).

It is impossible not to mention spreading fingers in front of the lens, bringing fists to the cheeks and other aegyo.

Women often cover their faces while laughing. It is considered indecent for them to show their teeth. Now this gesture, however, is somewhat outdated.

Being in Korea you have to get used to bowing. In Asia, you can't live without it.

No touch! Koreans consider it disgraceful to be touched by anyone other than close friends. Don't hug anyone, don't pat on the back, don't put your hand on your shoulder. It is absolutely unacceptable to touch elders and people of the opposite sex.

Koreans often laugh to hide their embarrassment. Laughter can also mean fear, anger or surprise. Korean women cover their mouths when they laugh. Men don't do it.

Close same-sex Korean friends can walk hand in hand or with a hand on their shoulder. Foreigners should not do the same.

You can not sit with your legs crossed or stretch them in front of you. Feet should be on the floor. Under no circumstances should they be placed on a table or chair.

You can only give and receive objects with your right hand (grasp the left hand right wrist) or both hands.

Cover your mouth with your hand when you yawn or use a toothpick.

Familiar people stand close to each other and walk side by side. It is very rude to make a person walk behind you.

Sit and stand straight without slouching.

When a person throws his head back and sucks in air through his teeth, it means "no" or "it's very difficult."

Ondol

Traditional Korean rooms are very versatile. 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, as a rule, is stone or concrete, and hot air is specially blown under it to heat the room. Clay or cement can serve as the top layer, protecting people from harmful gases. This method of heating is called "ondol" (literally from Korean: "hot stone").

Currently circulating under the floor hot water, and the floor itself is usually covered with linoleum.

Korean cuisine

Korean cuisine is famous for the wide variety of dishes and foods used in them. In ancient times, Korea was an agricultural country, which mainly grew rice, which served as the main food of the population. Currently, in Korean cuisine, along with herbs and vegetables, different kinds meat and fish. Korean foods such as kimchi (sauerkraut), jeotgal (salted shellfish, fish or shrimp) and twenjang (soybean paste) are famous for their specific flavor and high nutritional value.

The most distinctive feature of the Korean table is that all dishes are served at the same time. Traditionally, the number of snacks has varied from 3 for the lower classes to 12 for members of the royal family. Table setting changes depending on what is served on the table: noodles or a meat dish. The formal rules of table setting show the attention paid by Koreans to food and the process of eating. Compared to neighboring China and Japan, the spoon is more commonly used in Korea, especially when soups are served.

kimjang

Kimjang is the time of preparing kimchi for the winter, a special way, the secrets of which are passed down from generation to generation. Since vegetables hardly grow in Korea in winter, Kimjang is held in late autumn, supplying Koreans with their main food, kimchi, for the whole winter, as Koreans simply cannot imagine a table without it.

National clothes (hanbok)

Hanbok has been a traditional Korean garment for thousands of years. All its beauty and grace can be seen in the photographs of women dressed in hanbok.

Hanbok was a daily wear in Korea before the arrival of Western style to the country about a hundred years ago. Men wore "chogori" (jackets) along with "paji" (pants), while women wore "chogori" with "chima" (skirt). These days, hanbok is worn for holidays such as Seollal (Oriental New Year), Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) or weddings.

hanbok characterized by simplicity of lines, and the absence of pockets. The women's hanbok consists of a loose skirt that wraps around the body and a bolero-like jacket. This is called chima-chogori. A skirt is called in Korean - chima, and a jacket - chogori. The male hanbok consists of a short jacket and loose-fitting trousers, called paji in Korean, which must fit snugly around the ankles. Both ensembles can be complemented by long outerwear, similar in cut to chogori, and called turumaga. From ancient times, representatives of both sexes wore poson on their feet - thick, quilted socks, as well as komusin - wide shoes with curved toes, which are easily removed and put on when entering and leaving the house. The latter circumstance is important, considering that until now in Korea it is not customary to be indoors in shoes, even home shoes.

The traditional hanbok, still worn today, is modeled after the Confucian-oriented clothing that was common during the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Representatives of the yangban (hereditary aristocratic class, relying more on education and social status than for material values) wore hanbok of bright colors, sewn from plain silk, and hand-made silk in cold weather, and in hot weather - from light, permeable materials. People of humble birth were forbidden by law (as well as people owning capital) to bleach hemp and cotton in order to wear white and sometimes pale pink clothes. Therefore, they could only wear light green, gray or jet black hanbok.

traditional korean house

The traditional Korean house is called "hanok". When building such a house, a place is selected in which a person can coexist with nature. Therefore, the natural conditions of a traditional Korean home 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 summer and heated in winter. Hot summers and cold winters led to the invention of the ondol gudeul floor heating system and the taecheon ventilated terrace. Thanks to such inventions, the Koreans could endure the cold of winter and sweltering, humid summers. Such simple heating and air conditioning systems are so efficient that they are used in many homes even today.

In 2010, the capital of South Korea, Seoul, 10 million, received the honorary title of capital with the best design. This city, whose age is confidently approaching two and a half thousand years, is really very beautiful and every year attracts crowds of tourists from all over the world.

The Koreans themselves are an amazing people who have managed to preserve many unique traditions, despite the onslaught of globalization erasing any national differences. Many of these traditions and features may seem very, very specific to European tourists coming to the country.

1. Toilet humor is very popular in South Korea.


Jokes, funny and not so funny, about the toilet in South Korea can be found at every turn. The process of defecation is considered so funny that a whole park is dedicated to it under open sky with all sorts of highly realistic sculptures and installations. In pastry shops, you can often see cookies and other sweets decorated in the form of poop, and souvenir shops cover this topic in great detail. None of the locals are outraged or shocked. No one gets sick of such jokes. Everyone is having fun.

2. Friendly hugs.


Europe has long been completely indifferent to kisses, hugs and other violent manifestations of affection in in public places if it is done by members of different genders. If a man does the same with a man or a woman with a woman, then they will be perceived only as a homosexual couple. South Korea has its own logic in this respect. Caresses of young people of the opposite sex in public places are considered the height of indecency, but friends of the same sex can walk holding hands, sit on each other's laps, gently touch each other's hair - and this will not be considered a manifestation of disrespect for society or a sign of non-traditional sexual orientation .

3. Plastic surgery is literally sweeping South Korea.


Today, South Korea has the fame of one of the leaders in the number of plastic surgeries per capita. Good plastic surgeons there are so many here that even foreigners come to see them, combining exciting tourism with changing their appearance. In addition, prices in Korea for such services are much lower than in Europe and the United States, so the business is only gaining momentum every year.

One of the most common surgeries in South Korea is eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty). Both girls and boys, almost without hesitation, risk their health and go under the surgeon's knife only to acquire a "European" eye shape.

4. Motels for love pleasures.


For young people from decent families in this country, any manifestation of tender feelings in public places is considered unacceptable. Parental control in families is also unusually strict. Nothing can be done - this is a tribute to centuries-old traditions. But the Koreans came up with a very cunning way to combine both external observance of Puritan traditions and modern emancipation (or, as retrogrades call it, “licentiousness and moral degradation”). Young couples go to kiss not on the benches of the nearest park, as they do in Europe, but in mini-motels, of which there are a great many in South Korea.

5. K-Pop music


K-Pop is the name given to Korean pop music. She has quite a few specific traits and enjoys great success not only in South Korea itself, but also in other Asian countries. Performers gather an audience of many thousands at concerts, and fans often experience real tantrums up to fainting.

Groups working in this musical genre, usually consist of several boys and girls aged 16 to 24 years. Musical compositions K-Pop is a combination of rhythm and blues, hip-hop and electropop, and the lyrics are often not in Korean, but in English. There are so many fans of this music that it is already considered a full-fledged international youth subculture.

6. Ajumma.


Ajumma is the name given to older ladies in South Korea. One of the specific features of Korean culture is the extremely respectful attitude of the younger members of society towards the elders. At the same time, ladies of advanced age acquire a surprisingly high status and can literally do whatever they want. Ajumma use this very actively. In crowded public transport, they, as they say, “break through” - after all, everyone must give way to them, so why stand on ceremony. They consider it their duty to make loud remarks about the behavior of all those who belong to the younger age category, and if young people have the audacity not to listen to their words, then the ajumma may even spit on them. And no one dares to object or be indignant.

7. Alcohol abuse.


In South Korea, this evil has truly cyclopean proportions - the country chronically ranks first in the consumption of strong drinks. In the evening, after the end of the working day, the streets of cities are literally clogged with citizens barely able to stand on their feet. Drunks behave, however, extremely peacefully and decently, and brawls occur extremely rarely. Some bring themselves to such a state, resting after hard work, while for others, late feasts with irrepressible libations, surprisingly, are a kind of continuation of the working day. According to the Korean corporate culture”, if the boss invites subordinates to drink after work, then it is absolutely impossible to refuse. So the recruits have to drink first by force, and then by irrepressible desire.

8. Matching outfits are a Korean youth trend.


If the meeting of several fashionistas in exactly the same outfits in Europe is perceived as a fiasco, then in South Korea this is a popular trend. Young people deliberately try to dress up as twins. This is how they show everyone else that they are Good friends. Boutique owners are well aware of this fashion fad and do their best to help their customers to purchase exactly the same sets of clothes.

9. Incredible speed food delivery from restaurants.


Delivery of different food in all developed countries works very well, but in South Korea it has been brought to a virtuoso level. The customer barely has time to put down the phone, as the courier who delivered the treat is already ringing at the door. You also don’t have to worry about returning dishes to the restaurant at all - after the meal is over, they simply put them out the door. A little later, the courier will call and pick up dirty dishes without further questions.

10. Ultra-short skirts.


Miniskirts today, it would seem, can not surprise anyone, but the residents of South Korea still manage to do it. For many young women, they are so short that when fashionistas walk up the stairs, they have to cover themselves with handbags or newspapers so as not to disturb passers-by too much. At the same time, the Korean public treats such outfits quite calmly. But if a girl decides to wear even a very moderate neckline, then she cannot avoid disapproving glances and offensive remarks. And if she, being in such an outfit, is not lucky enough to run into someone from Ajumma, then she will not only be scolded loudly last words, but also spit after.

Despite the fact that world society has recently changed significantly and is no longer the same as it was just a century ago, the traditions of Korea are still determined depending on the traditional Confucian structure of social relations.

The role of Confucianism in the country is still very great. Age and position in society are great value. The traditions of South Korea regarding relations in society are very clearly marked - the younger ones follow the wishes of the elders, and people from high social strata are the authorities of ordinary citizens. So it has always been in this country and now such simple laws also operate, although it is worth noting that, nevertheless, compared to more early stages development of Korean culture, the lines of such rules are now a little blurred. Therefore, the inhabitants of South Korea, before making an acquaintance with a new person, try to find out as much as possible about him. To determine your own behavior certain person Koreans know about it marital status, age, status. And these questions are not asked by them out of ordinary curiosity, although, of course, not everyone answers them honestly or generally prefers to remain silent.

To more clearly understand Korean culture, you need to know their attitude towards marriage.

A wedding is without a doubt the most significant event in the life of every inhabitant of this country. Divorce is a shame and a stigma for the rest of your life, and not only for spouses, but for all members of their families. Although, modern society takes its toll and, despite the sharp criticism of society, more and more couples officially end their relationship.

Residents of Korea are not very emotional people and it is not customary for them to hug or kiss when they meet. Usually, everything is limited to a handshake. However, once the relationship becomes closer, some familiarity is possible. It should be noted that Koreans are extremely negative about girls who walk hand in hand. So in order to avoid misunderstandings when visiting Korea, it is better not to do this.

People who are in close relationship with each other may well touch faces in a busy place - this is allowed by public morality in this country. Although passionate kisses and hugs are still very obscene and educated Koreans will not allow themselves this in crowded places.

The meal in Korea takes place on the floor, so when you come to visit, be sure to take off your shoes.

In the country it is not decent to be bare-legged in the presence of older people. Always in this case, you need to wear stockings or socks.

The norm of behavior in society is when visiting any institution, everyone pays for himself (in a pool), although if someone expresses a desire to pay for everyone, no one will object. Not so long ago, lunch or dinner in Korea had to be held in silence, but in modern society It is permissible to discuss and laugh at something while eating.For food, you always need to thank the hostess or the owner, which is very much appreciated.In Korea, you should not beckon a person towards you with your finger or palm facing up, because, in this way, only dogs attract the attention in the country.

Holidays in Korea.

Thanksgiving is in mid-September.

Seokkhonjae is celebrated in March and September. Great amount people these days come to Confucian chapels. There you can see costumed rituals, hear traditional orchestras. The best place to visit such a holiday is Sungkyunkwan (Seoul University).

On the festival of the birth of the Buddha (May), parades of lanterns are held - a very spectacular sight. At the beginning of September, another significant Korean holiday falls - the Lunar Harvest Festival.Also this month you can visit National Festival Folklore Arts and see how they celebrate Hanjongshik - a celebration of the culture of Korea.

European culture is fundamentally different from Asian. This is manifested in absolutely all social and everyday nuances, so Asia is incredibly attractive for tourists from all over the world. Of particular great interest is the culture and customs of South Korea, which for a long time was in some isolation from the rest of the world. Today, Europeans find this country incredibly beautiful and original, so we decided to tell you the most Interesting Facts about Korean culture.

Korean culture: features

At the beginning of the article, I would like to clarify that the Koreans are an indivisible nation with common traditions, religion and customs. But due to certain circumstances, the country was divided into parts and now it is two absolutely sovereign states - South and In cases where journalists or sociologists mention Korea, they mean exactly the state called South Korea. We will do the same. Especially since cultural heritage both countries is identical.

South Korea: customs and traditions

Korean culture was formed under the influence of the Chinese and Mongolian people. This can be seen in some elements of the folk costume and musical preferences, surprisingly reminiscent of traditional Chinese chants. If you ever find yourself in Korea, you will be surprised how often music and songs are heard on the streets of cities. They accompany the life of an ordinary Korean from the moment of birth until death.

Religion has greatly influenced cultural traditions Korea. Initially, almost all Koreans were bright adherents of shamanism. Only with the arrival of the first Buddhist monks from China to these lands, a new religion began to spread throughout the country. It surprisingly quickly entered the life of Koreans and superimposed on their traditions. In addition, Buddhism gave a powerful impetus to the development of art. traditional painting, for example, under the influence of a new religion, it was enriched with previously unused styles and trends. Silk painting and paintings in the style of naturalism became popular.

In culture, a special place is occupied by the attitude towards the older generation. This tradition can be attributed to the Koreans. Among them, it is still customary to treat elders with great respect and carry out their words without reservation. Quite often, being among strangers, Koreans seek to find out their social status and age. It is from this that they are repelled, building a model of behavior in society.

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Young Koreans respect the will of their parents above all and marry only after their blessing. Indeed, in Korea, divorce is considered a disgrace not only for two people, but also for their families. Now weddings are played mainly in two versions - traditional and Western. Thus, all secular laws and cultural traditions are respected. The most common clothing for any festive ceremonies is the Korean national costume hanbok. It causes admiration among Europeans because this clothing is a riot of colors and simplicity of lines, which together add up to an incredibly attractive image.

Korean folk costume: general characteristics

The costume, which is the national festive dress in Korea, is called hanbok. It has been preserved almost unchanged for several millennia. Korean has three main parts:

• chogori;
• chima;
• open.

Chogori is an upper shirt, chima is an A-line skirt, and otkoreum are wide and long ribbons that do not allow the shirt to swing open and are a decorative element of the costume.

Korean male costume consists of the following elements:

• chogori;
• paji;

The upper chogori shirt in a men's suit differs little from the women's, and paji pants are comfortable baggy trousers tied with two ribbons, which makes them almost universal. In the cold season, a kind of coat, pho, was put on the chogori.

Hanbok colors

In various catwalk photos, the Korean national costume appears to foreigners as something amazingly colorful. Koreans know how to combine bright and rich colors with each other to create unique looks. Usually two or three colors are used in one suit in unusual combinations. Often, chima and jeogori were decorated with gold foil embroidery, which was elevated to the rank of a special art in Korea.

The bright colors of hanbok have always been available only to noble Koreans. They had the right to use all sorts of colors, which often played an informational role when meeting with acquaintances. For example, deep Blue colour could only be worn by women with one son.

Commoners were forbidden to use bright colors: their Korean national costume was replete with shades of gray and beige. The poor could afford some color variety - pink and green color scheme. But it has always had very pale shades, as opposed to the pure and rich colors of the aristocratic hanbok.

What material is the hanbok made from?

The Korean national costume was most often sewn from mixed cotton fabrics. They were worn well in the hot season, in other seasons their silk clothes were common. But only the rich could afford such a variety. The main population of Korea wore hanbok made of plain cotton or hemp.

Women's hanbok details

It should be noted that throughout the history of its existence folk costume changed only its length and design elements. AT in general terms he remained consistent, which speaks of his extreme convenience, which Koreans are proud of to this day. The outer shirt of the chogori was always quite short, traditional version it reaches the waist. But over time, its length has changed significantly. For example, in the eighteenth century, the chogori turned into a kind of top, barely covering the chest. In some provinces, it even left the chest open, which indicated that the woman had children.

Chima also did not always have the shape of a bell today. Influenced by Mongolian and Chinese culture, the skirt began to expand towards the hips and narrow towards the legs from the seventeenth century. In the nineteenth century, this form of chima reached its maximum expansion and gradually began to take on a more traditional form. now the skirt national costume starts just under the bust and expands towards the floor. The ribbons of otkoryum were originally very narrow, but over time they were made from a fabric that contrasted with the chogori in color to create additional element design.

Hanbok: male costume

The hanbok for men hasn't changed much. Chogori and paji were often sewn from fabric different colors, which allowed creating unique combinations and combinations. In a men's suit, the chogori reaches mid-thigh and has loose fit unlike the fitted female version.

As outerwear, men often wore not only the already mentioned pho, but also magoja - and a detachable collar. It was customary to wear it over a chogori and not fasten it. This element of clothing came to Korean culture thanks to the Mongolian princesses. But a few years later, it became so fused with the traditional hanbok that to this day it is considered the main part of the national costume not only for men, but also for women.

Children's traditional clothes

The Korean national costume for girls and boys is not much different from adult models. Parents try to buy costumes of bright colors for their beloved children, which are worn not only on official public holidays, but also in a close family circle. It is also customary to wear hanbok on various occasions. festive events in kindergarten and school.

It is difficult to imagine at least one celebration in Korea that would have done without a national costume. He is loved by absolutely all Koreans without exception. And this is not surprising because, in addition to beauty, hanbok is distinguished by extraordinary convenience and practicality. Therefore, if you happen to visit South Korea, be sure to bring hanbok from there as a souvenir. With it, you can make an unforgettable impression at any party.