Well the biggest holiday of the year for Korea (maybe New Years is about the same) is Chuseok (said like Chew-suck), which is like Thanksgiving. It is to celebrate the Harvest season, but in this time, they normally formally invite their dead ancestors to come and be with them. Many Christians here in Korea do not perform the ceremony, but just have a nice meal with family.
Nayeon's family is not Christian (yet ^^....keep praying) and it is actually Nayeon's father's responsibility as the first son to carry on the tradition, and later, Nayeon's brother. It's interesting, because Nayeon's brother, Byung-Min, just accepted the Lord about 2 weeks ago! Praise God. Pray for him, please please please.
But here is the setup for a normal bowing ceremony. You cant see it, but below the fruit, there is a small table for incense and pouring the traditional Korean liquor. They dont drink it, but fill the cups, set them at the back, and then empty them and refill them for each son that is carrying on the family name. So, they fill and empty, each son, very boring...lol I think nobody in this family likes to do this, but just tradition keeps them doing it. Nayeon was telling me they almost canceled it, because they dont really care too much, but just want to get together with family. Maybe one year, we could skip this because of our mutual faith in Jesus, and fellowship together and have a nice meal. God you are in control!
here are some of the women preparing the food...oh....i forgot to say...it is about 8 in the morning! Thanksgiving in America is normally about 3 or 4pm, but I had a full Thanksgiving meal at 8AM....ugh....difficult to eat that much so early, when i had just woken up too!
You can see the final bow...Nayeon's father in the middle, uncles on the sides of him, and Nayeon brother and cousin in the back....
During the meal I decided to give Nayeon's family their Hong Kong presents....here in Nayeon's mom and Nayeon....beautiful girls huh?! Her mom is holding the Hong Kong chocolates I gave them. I also gave them some dried mangos and some CC Lemon from Japan (Pastor Tommy hooked me up while in Hong Kong ^^ Thanks!)
Hong Kong chocolate coins....and some of the site you can see in Hong Kong...
Later that day we went towards Nayeon's grandpa's brothers house. We got to have another good meal, and some time to go fishing in the little creek that they had running next to their house. Little fish, but still fun to watch! Check it out!
Here is Nayeon....^^ yes it is getting cold now! The season has finally changed to fall, and you can definitely feel it....im happy i brought my jacket that weekend.
It was good I got to be with Nayeon's family all week, helping them with their rice cake business and spending lots of quality time with her brother and parents. I praise God that her family is showing me more care and love, because it makes me feel comfortable here in Korea. It definitely is home, having Nayeon's family, Mike and his family, and the church family here. Thanks God for a great place to live!
1 comment:
Maybe we can bring a net to Cardinal Village next time! Did you get to eat any of the fish?
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