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christmas in korea
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Christmas in Korea
The Korean peninsula is located in northeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, the Yellow Sea to the west, the Sea of Japan to the east, and the East China Sea to the south. Since the end of the Second World War, there is division of Korea into two countries: the communist Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in the north and the democratic Republic of Korea in the south. Given that religious activity is severely restricted in North Korea, Christmas observances on the peninsula take place in earnest in South Korea.
Korea does not have a history as the USA and other western countries with Christian roots. The 5000 year plus roots of Korea go deep back into the Chinese culture. The culture and life of the Koreans has been shaped by the Confucianism, Mahayana style Buddhism as wall as Korean Shamanism (animism) for centuries. However, Christianity was introduced to Korea for the first time by Catholic priests over 200 years ago. Then Protestant Christianity came to Korea just a little over 100 years ago.
Christianity has been an important factor in reshaping Korea in to a modern advanced country. Modern Korea has many things to credit Christianity for bringing into this country: colleges and universities; western medicine; recognition of women as people of worth; but especially the Good News that Christ changes a person from the inside out. Even though the official religion of the country is Buddhism, 30 percent population of South Korea is Christian.
South Koreans have already recognized the significance of Commercialism in the modern ages. There are Christmas decorations in a great number of stores. Although Christians today comprise only around 30% of its population, South Korea recognizes Christmas as a public holiday. Korean non-Christians who otherwise go about their daily routine on December 25 may engage in some holiday customs such as gift-giving, sending Christmas cards, and setting up decorated trees in their homes; children, especially, appear to have embraced Santa Claus, whom they call Santa Grandfather.
As in the West, Christian churches in Korea hold Christmas pageants and conduct special services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Young people especially enjoy the fellowship these observances provide; after the Christmas Eve services.Then from about midnight until 5 am on Christmas morning, they break into small groups and go carolling following a prescribed list of chruch members. It is traditional that when one hears carollers outside his home or apartment, he opens the door to listen and then invites the entire group into his home for hot drinks and snacks.
On Christmas Day, the teens and sponsors use to attend the traditional Christmas worship service in Church at 11am. They had just an hour or two of sleep of the previous night. The worship is followed by the baptism and the reception of new members into the church. Both teens and older adults are included as new church members. Following the worship, baptismal service and the reception of new church members, A traditional Christmas dinner is usually served at the church in a time of fellowship. The meal is usually a hot bowl of rice cake soup (duk) served with kimchi of the side (kimchi is a variety of spicy pickeled vegetables, but especially Chinese style cabbage), a tangerine and perhape a cookie or two.
Christmas gifts are also given with great heartily feelings. Sometimes gifts are given at home, but NOT in the same quantity that most Americans give.Local radio stations might play some holiday music on Christmas Day and a few days before, while television stations are known to air Christmas films and cartoon specials popular in the United States. In addition, increasing numbers of stores and buildings are displaying Christmas decorations, and the commercialistic trappings of the season are making some inroads, but not with the same intensity noticed in Western countries. All in all, there is definitely a strong American influence behind the Korean celebration of Christmas.
The Christmas greeting in Korea is Sung Dan Juk Ha.
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