Country you go customs you find… If in Italy we can say “Christmas with yours…”, it's not the same for Koreans. Indeed, spending Christmas at home with your parents would become truly unfortunate, because for most of them it is a moment to celebrate as a couple.
The magic of Christmas, however, has also arrived here in South Korea, even if the holiday is not celebrated as it is here. However, Korea is one of the few Asian countries that recognizes Christmas (keuriseumaseu) as a national holiday; therefore alone offices and schools remain closed on December 25th.
The squares of Seoul are festively decorated with delightfully decorated Christmas trees. The large shopping centers are also unleashed and immediately enter the Christmas spirit. The Lotte, In the Myeondong district of Seoul, is the ideal place to admire the Christmas lights and decorations. Every year the outside of the building is illuminated with LED snowflakes.
One of the most famous and impressive lighting shows in the heart of Seoul is the one performed at the mall Times Square. It is a bit reminiscent of the decorations of New York City, as every year a huge tree is decorated, always in a different way.
HOW IS CHRISTMAS CELEBRATED IN KOREA?
Since the Christian religion is followed by at least 30% of the Korean population, for this segment of people the Christmas it is celebrated as a religious occasion. So, as in Italy, we wait for the birth of Jesus, we go to mass and spend the day with the family.
For the rest of the population, especially the younger ones, it's almost a second Valentine's Day, so Christmas is celebrated as a couple. Romance is the order of the day on December 25th and between shopping together, ice skating, a dinner at a restaurant or running to a playground to have fun with your partner, you'll be spoiled for choice. Couples with more financial resources, however, enjoy the Christmas Package offered by the most luxurious hotels in the city. Then they have a romantic evening with good wine, good food and a romantically decorated bedroom.
Many couples try to make the milestone of one hundred days of their relationship coincide with Christmas day. Reaching one hundred days together in Korea is considered a special occasion. September 17, called Go-baek, or confession in Korean, is the right time to find the courage to declare yourself to your loved one and ask for a date. If the result of this confession is positive, the hundredth day will fall on Christmas
AND IS SANTA CLAUS COMING FOR THE CHILDREN?
Of course he comes everywhere, except in Korea his name is Saint Harabujee! Grandpa Santa you can find him with his red suit or with the traditional Korean Hanbok. He is seen as a grandfather who distributes gifts to children. In the shops there is often Grandpa Santa who gives away sweets and chocolate.
AND NON-CHRISTIAN SINGLE HOW THEY SPEND THEIR CHRISTMAS IN KOREA?
In addition to trying to change their status by making appointments on this date, they can choose whether to go out with friends for shopping, see a Christmas movie or stay at home with parents and relatives.
As for the Christmas gifts, even here we are far from Western consumerist Christmas. Of course, couples go wild with special gifts!
And forget pandoro, panettone, nougat and other traditional Western Christmas foods. Not being a traditional festival, there is no real typical Korean food. However the cakes with Christmas decorations they are one of the most popular gifts if you are invited to someone's home. Go wild eating ice cream or cream filled cakes, decorated with Christmas trees in sugar paste.
What do you think? Would you like to spend Christmas in Korea or would you miss unwrapping the numerous Christmas presents together with relatives and friends?
Fabiana
cover photo credit: depositephotos