Korean Traditions

Am I the only one who thinks it's cool to read about other cultures traditions? My mom is Korean, and my dad is a blend of a few things: Italian, Norwegian, English with some Scotch and Irish. So that makes me mixed. Growing up, I hated being mixed. I just wanted to be "white", with that blond hair, blue eyes, and tanned skin. But I'm quite the opposite. I have super dark hair and eyes, and light skin. I burn before I tan, and end up with a bunch of freckles during the summer on my cheeks and shoulders. Surprisingly, some people don't know or can't tell that I'm mixed. And when people do know, they usually ask if I'm Hawaiian. I hate the questions growing up. "What are you?" I'd much prefer "What are you mixed with?" or "What nationality are you?". "What are you?" just makes me feel like I should respond with "Ummm, human?"

Me in a traditional Korean dress when I was three years old

It's funny in pictures, sometimes I look really Asian, sometimes I don't, guess it depends on the angle. My husband loves that I'm mixed, and says that's why I'm so pretty (awwwwwww). He says, and I've heard a few people say, that mixed people are so pretty because they get the best qualities of both races. But I don't know, I'm just me.

I think I look obviously mixed in this photo.

I love being mixed now, though. I love being part of a different culture. Although, if I get told again that I look like the actress China Chow, I might scream.

  China Chow

My mom lives 15 miles from us, which is awesome. Yay for free babysitters! She's taught my daughters a lot of Korean. I wish I knew more of the language. She tried to teach me when I was younger, but I had no interest in it. I always figured that I'd have no use for it. Then, when I was in the military, the first base I was stationed at was Osan AB, South Korea. Hmmmm, should have paid more attention in Korean class, huh. I can understand more than I can speak. I can do what I call "baby talk." "I'm hungry."" I'm tired."" Can I have a Coke, please?"" I'm ready to leave." Little phrases like that.

But we do keep up with some traditions. I always take my shoes off when I go to my moms house, it's a sign of respect (plus it helps keep the carpet clean). And I always bow when we're out and we see one of her friends, things like that. Koreans, and a lot of Asian cultures, are really big into respect. Especially respect for your elders.

My mother in a traditional dress in Korea

We did one of our traditions yesterday, since it was New Years Day. Every New Years, we go to my mom's house, and we do a "big bow" and she gives us "bow money." Basically, the older people in your family (parents, grandparents, etc) sit on the floor, and you kneel in front of them, place your hands on the floor, and place your head on your hands. And when you do that, you say a phrase that basically means "Best wishes for the New Year". Phonetically, it would be

"Say hey boke mah-knee pa ju say yo"

Yes, even Ava did it.

Then Jasmin.

And Arielle.

And me. Perhaps I should adopt my daughter's butt down technique.

And even Jake does it. I love that my husband supports our traditions.

Oh, and if you didn't notice the blinding colors, my daughters dressed themselves that day. I don't complain when they do, I'd rather they are happy with what they are wearing, than worry about people noticing that they look like a couple of ding dongs. We do have a joke though, I'll ask them "What do you say if someone asks who dressed you today?" And they will both say "We did!". I've learned to pick my battles.

My ding dongs that I did NOT dress that day

So after you bow and say your phrase, the person you bowed to will give you some money. It's basically the principle of "you get what you give." So if you give money in the New Year, you'll get money through the year. 

Then we'll have a big lunch together. Yesterday we made yaki mandu (some people call them pot stickers). It's a lot of work, but it's fun to spend that time together. Plus the home made ones taste so much better. 

My mom makes hers with ground beef, cabbage, tofu, chop chae noodles, and salt and pepper. 

yaki mandu before it's fried

Are there any traditions from other cultures that you participate in?