The legend tells that when the gods wanted to name the years, they gathered the animals and made them race, so whoever arrives first is named after him the first year, and whoever arrives second is named after him the second year and so on, then the animals raced, until they reached a sweeping river that separates them from the finish line.

And since the bull was the most capable animal to wade through the waters of the river and its heavy clay, the mouse sought to be allowed to ride its back to cross the river and escape from drowning, so the kind bull agreed, and at the last moment, the cunning mouse jumped off the back of the bull and reached the finish line and won the race.

Thus, the first year in the Chinese calendar was called the year of the rat, while the second was called the year of the bull.

The Christian world celebrates the New Year, the Muslims celebrate the Hijri New Year, the Maghreb people also celebrate the Agricultural New Year, and East Asia celebrates the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Ox, on February 12th.

As for Koreans, they call it Korean New Year, or “Solagel,” and from the meanings of this word, “Day of Emotion,” they celebrate it in different ways from other Asian countries.

Exodus to villages

Solagl is the most important national holiday in Korea, as more than 30 million Korean citizens leave their cities and fill roads and train stations in the largest mass "exodus" that leads them to their villages and the towns of their parents and grandparents, where they offer reverence and sacrifice to ancestors in the most important spiritual ritual of the year.

On the morning of the Korean year, family members wear the traditional "hanbok" (shutterstock) dress.

Age does not count in years

One of the strangeness of Korean culture is that people age one year more by simply witnessing the Lunar New Year, in addition to their age being one year as soon as they are born, and so the child who was born on February 11th is one year old, and when he witnesses the New Year the next day ( On February 12), his age increases for a second year, so he becomes two years old, despite his age, in the internationally recognized system, only two days.

Koreans believe that a person’s life does not begin with his birth, but rather once the soul enters his body and is a fetus in his mother’s womb. The life of the soul increases a year with its witness to the world’s transition from tower to tower.

Exotic gifts

On this occasion, Koreans present gifts to their relatives and friends, but unlike people's customs of presenting valuable gifts in valuable social occasions, Koreans gift unexpected gifts, such as: cans of processed meat "spam" (an American brand), canned tuna, and oil Cooking, and other inexpensive products.

What is the secret behind this?

Mr. Yoon - a man in his fifties - explains: “This tradition dates back to the days of the Korean War, when the country experienced severe famine that lasted a few years. The only source of meat was spam cans that were distributed by the US military to people.

Although "spam" was and still is a cheap product in America, its value rose in Korea during the war and its aftermath, until it became the best gift that could be given.

While in the United States the word "spam" denotes a trade name, in Korea it has come to mean that type of canned processed meat, and it has become an integral part of Korean cuisine.

Today, Korea is the second largest consumer of spam after America, and it also constitutes 70% of the total gifts bought during the Lunar New Year holiday.

On Korean New Year, every family members gather at the ancestral home to conduct a "jisa" ritual (Shutterstock)

Army soup from War Memories

And from spam, the Koreans created what became called "army soup", about which Mr. Yoon says, "During the war, people used to take food aid from the American military bases, so mothers mixed it with what they had of onions, peppers and noodles, and they made soup, which became with time." It is a freestanding dish, we call it army soup. "

Regarding the ingredients of that soup, he added, "Today's army soup consists of sesame slices, sausage slices, and very hot spices, and a lot of slices and memories of the war, so we take it to remember those days, as our children eat it so that they know the difficult times their fathers and grandfathers went through, and they feel grateful and thankful for the blessings." They own today. "

Dishes bring wealth

But the most important traditional dish that Koreans eat on the Korean New Year is Tokok soup, or rice cake soup, which is made from sliced ​​rice dough in circular slices in the form of coins, and a few eggs are added to it, which symbolizes gold, and by eating it Koreans are optimistic about getting a great fortune in the year New.

Mothers also prepare small, stuffed baked goods, and they hide a coin inside one of them. Whoever found it from family members is optimistic about obtaining a great fortune this year.

On the Eve of the Korean New Year, mothers and daughters prepare various types of food (Reuters)

Jisa .. the sacrifice of ancestors

On the Korean New Year, members of each family gather at the grandparents' house to conduct the "jisa" ritual that starts from the previous night, during which mothers and daughters prepare various types of food.

Foods are placed on the table in a special order: rice, meat and white foods to the west, and soups, fish and red fruits to the east, and they are arranged in 4 rows: the first for fruits and sweets, the second for meat and fish, the third for vegetables, and the last for rice.

On top of the table, pictures of grandparents or their names are written on large boards.

In the morning, family members wear the traditional dress of "hanbok", and they meet before the table with respect and reverence. The head of the family who recites prayers to ask for the presence of the spirits of the ancestors leads them, then brings her a cup of rice drink and prostrates two prostrations, followed by his wife and she prostrates four, then the rest of the sons and their wives follow it from Largest to smallest.

Then the head of the family puts a spoon in the rice dish, and brings it to the ancestors, and everyone leaves the room for a few minutes until they accept the sacrament, then the head of the family coughs twice, pointing to return to the room, then he brings a cup of rice tea to the ancestors, then the plural prostrates twice, recite the farewell phrases, and pray To fulfill their wishes, and then raise the table.

After the end of the ritual, the time for the blessed feast comes, when the family enjoys eating the delicious foods blessed by the spirits of the ancestors, as well as sharing it with neighbors, friends and passers-by.

Children do not forget to prostrate to their parents, thanks and reverence for them, while fathers give them whatever money they can.

In the afternoon, adults visit, and children and young people go out to play Yatnori, Shikechiki, and other fun popular games.

Celebrate your hearts

The oldest documented celebration of the lunar year in Korea took place in 488 AD, during the reign of the Kingdom of Silla, and for the first time since that era - with the exception of the war years - Koreans are unable to travel and celebrate alongside their parents and grandparents, as they did every year, due to the precautionary measures imposed by the Corona epidemic on the world.

As the authorities circulated a recommendation to citizens, urging them to avoid the spread of the epidemic, not to visit their hometowns, and to content themselves with visiting their relatives with their hearts, not their bodies.