Christmas In Korea

Hello Friends Across The Globe!

Like everyone else this holiday season we, too, will write a holiday edition. This blog will be in sections so you can skip whatever will bore you.

Aaaaaaand.....we're off!

Christmas in Korea:

According to the CIA factbook only 26% of Koreas are Christian (almost 20% being protestant), around 23% buddhist and the rest having "none." That being said, christmas in Korea does indeed exist and seems to be growing in popularity and commercialism.

There are some small differences here but overall christmas is very similar to at home.

Music:

Yes, they play christmas music in the stores (sometimes blaring outside of the stores) and yes many songs are in English although they have many korean versions of the songs we recognize.

Trees:

People do indeed have christmas trees although the trees are often fake and small. And as every student tells me there must be a star at the top of the tree.

Candy:

Heck yeah. Candy Canes exist and are popular here. However, I haven't seen massive store displays selling candy canes, only a few here and there. They do not have ribbon candy. (i knew you were wondering)

Food:

There seems to be no specific Christmas Dinner, however Christmas Cake is hugely popular and seems to be a staple. What is this Christmas Cake you ask? Well, similar to birthday cake it can be anything. There is no mandated flavor (I asked about fruit cake and they simply started at me). Every local bakery (and dunkin donuts) had stacks of Cake boxes outside their doors. You could tell it was christmas eve because every other person was carrying a cake box.

Santa:

Oh yes and he looks the same, still has a sled and 9 reindeer. They love rudolph here and that's one of the songs I recognize in Korean.

Stockings:

Yes, but I haven't figured out if presents go in them. My students seem baffled when i asked about that and said they were just a decoration. (also they called them "socks" and even "red sox" - real cute and, of course, true)

Christmas Shows:

Watching Home Alone! I'm sure there are also US Citizens that watch Macaulay Culkin on Christmas but when I think of Christmas programing I think of "A Christmas Story" and "Charlie Brown". Oh, and lets not forget "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation". Please, let me know if you think differently. Anyway, in Korea it's Home Alone.

Caroling:

Does not happen and my students seemed appalled that I even suggested singing outside and in public.

Outside Decorations:

On people's personal houses, No. At stores and in Churches, Yes. However, the Christmas Decorations are not nearly to the same extent. I was told that outside of city hall they do a pretty good display but I haven't made it there. Near us the only really big christmas display is in front of the massive protestant church (looks like a catholic cathedral) near our house.

Lastly:

Clubbing. It seems that those people who aren't married, don't have children or are old enough to, go the clubs on Christmas. I thought it strange, but Sara and Jill, our friends in Argentina said it's a tradition there too. Needless to say, we did not go out clubbing on Christmas (eve or day).

Exciting things about Korea:

Christmas Songs:

Currently the top two christmas songs in Korea are Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas is you" and Wham's "Last Christmas."

Exams:

Christmas, although growing, is still not the only thing people focus on for the December Season. My poor 1st and 2nd graders had National Exams the day before Christmas Eve and there was school on the 24 (although not the 25th).

Hannukah you ask?

Hardly anywhere. There was a small menorah outside one of the downtown hotels in Seoul that was lit nightly. Of course because I didn't want to teach only christmas I also taught Hannukah to my students. None of them (students or teachers) had ever heard of such a holiday. The Jewish population in Korea is very small.