Saturday, March 23, 2013

Yujin Song/ Festival/ Tue 9am

How many times do you celebrate New Year’s Day? In Korea, people celebrate it twice; on January 1st of the solar calendar and on January 1st of the lunar calendar. Luna New Year’s Day is called “Seol” in Korean, and it is one of two major traditional holidays in Korea with Chuseok. On Seol, like other families, my family reunites in the grandmother’s house and commemorates ancestors.

 

My whole family gets together on New Year’s Eve, and we make “mandu,” dumpling stuffed with tofu, noodle and meat. First, we mix the flour and water to make dough. Next, we divide it into small pieces, and then roll them paper thin. After that, we chop noodle and meat and mix them with tofu. Finally, we put some of them on thin dough and make it like a ball. I often make ugly mandu, but it is fun to make holiday dishes together.

 

Though making mandu is fun, my favorite dish is galbi, which is a Korean-style beef-rib stew. To cook galbi, first, dip beef in water for about four hours to remove blood. This first step contributes a lot to taste. Then, cut various vegetables into large chunks such as a radish, carrots and potatoes. After that, simmer water on low heat with soy sauce, onions and garlic. This is a main seasoning for galbi. Next, pour it into a pot and put ribs, chopped radish, carrots and potatoes into the pot. Finally, boil them for additional five minutes and I can enjoy galbi!

 

Before we have a nice meal in the morning of Seol, we commemorate ancestors and express respect to elder family members. First, as my family is Christian, we hold a memorial worship service, instead of an ancestral rite. Next, my cousins and I bow to grandmother, uncles and aunt. This custom is a traditional way of greeting and called “Sebae” in Korean. When we bow to elders, they give us words of blessing and money. Finally, all of family members visit the grave of grandfather and observe a moment of silence.

 

Although it takes a long time to go to the grandmother’s house, my family reunites and has fun on Seol. We talks a lot while making New Year’s dishes and we feel closer. In addition, my family remembers ancestors and gives blessings to each other for the New Year. I really look forward to the next year’s Seol and I want to suggest making dishes with mom and aunts.

2 comments:

  1. From Simmy:
    1.Yes, the essay has a thesis statement:on Seol,like other families, my family reunites in my grandmother's house and commemorates ancestors.
    2.Yes, the writer includes background information:Luna New Year's Day is one of two major traditional holidays in Korea.
    3.Yes, each paragraph presents a different part of the process.
    4.Yes, the parts of the process organized in a logical sequence: making mandu,cooking galbi, commemorating ancestors and expressing respect to elder family members.
    5.Yes, the body paragraphs have facts,definitions and details.
    6.Yes, the writer includes an evaluation in the conclusion.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Second Draft:

    How many times do you celebrate New Year’s Day? In Korea, people celebrate it twice; on January 1st of the solar calendar and on January 1st of the lunar calendar. Luna New Year’s Day is called “Seol” in Korean, and it is one of two major traditional holidays in Korea with Chuseok (similar to Thanksgiving). On Seol, my family reunites in the grandmother’s house and commemorates ancestors.

    My whole family gets together on New Year’s Eve and makes “mandu,” a dumpling stuffed with tofu, noodle and meat. First, we mix the flour and water to make dough. Next, we divide it into small pieces, and then roll them paper thin. After that, we chop noodle and meat and mix them with tofu. Finally, we put some of them on thin dough and make it like a ball. I often make ugly mandu, but it is fun to make holiday dishes altogether.

    In the morning of Seol, the whole family is busy to celebrate the New Year. First, aunts and mom cook a rice cake soup with sliced rice cake and mandu. While they are cooking, cousins and I clean the living room. Then, uncles bring out two big tables from the attic and wipe them. Next, we dress up neatly and some young cousins wear a traditional costume, Hanbok. When everything is ready, all family members finally gather in the grandmother’s room.

    Before we have a nice meal in the morning of Seol, we commemorate ancestors and express respect to elder family members. First, as my family is Christian, we hold a memorial worship service, instead of an ancestral rite. Next, my cousins and I bow to grandmother, uncles and aunt. This custom is a traditional way of greeting and we called it “Sebae” in Korean. When we bow to elders, they give us words of blessing and money. Finally, all of family members visit the grave of grandfather and observe a moment of silence.

    Although it takes a long time to go to the grandmother’s house, my family reunites and has fun on Seol. We talks a lot while making New Year’s dishes and we feel closer. In addition, my family remembers ancestors and gives blessings to each other for the New Year. I really look forward to the next year’s Seol and I want to suggest making dishes with mom and aunts.

    ReplyDelete