A year after a person dies, it is Korean culture to make a big feast in offering to the ancestor. The whole family is present to pay their respects. I was invited to attend such a gathering.
The grandmother's name is placed inside a wooden plaque and one candle lit on each side. Then the food is placed on the table.
Red colored foods are placed away from the grandmother because superstitiously red is a bad color. Incense is lit and must be burning the whole time. The grandmother starts to eat first.
When she is finished with her main meal, every family does a toast with her. In this case, the eldest son and his family was first. The eldest son would pour her a glass of soju, wave it over the incense 2 or 3 times and then place it next to her plaque. Next he would step back and with his family, all would bow all the way down (on their knees, head on the floor). They would bow twice and then the next family would go.
After everyone has paid their respects, the food is taken and divided among us. It is now our time to eat! Usually the food is placed around 11pm. Then around 11:30 is when the bowing begins. We didn't finish until a little after midnight. I was told they began this ceremony so late because when the night is the darkest the spirits come out.
0 comments:
Post a Comment