Koreans celebrate major holiday
- posted: 16 Oct. 2007
- scrolllifestyle@byui.edu
A music video of Koreans break-dancing to a rap version of Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” isn’t all that happened over the weekend in Rexburg, though it did start off a celebration of Korean Thanksgiving by BYU-Idaho’s Korean Culture Association Friday night.
With an entrance fee of $5, the association was able to provide both magic tricks enveloped in drizzles of confetti and thundering Korean music played on large drums with such enthusiasm that grinning parents listened as they covered their children’s ears with their hands.
Many of the drummers and other instrumentalists who played a traditional Korean song at the celebration were taught by the association how to play. Playing the music allowed them to introduce others to a bit of Korean festivity.
“I wanted to tell people about our Korean culture,” said Terry Song, a sophomore attending Madison High School and one of the drummers for the association.
Chicken fights, team jump roping and arm wrestling matches also made participants and on-lookers laugh, smile, and in the case of certain youngsters, squeal with delight.
“I like when there are lots of people here playing and having fun,” said Min Young, the 10-year-old daughter of Park Soon Chul, the association’s president, running back to help her jump-roping team. Jump-roping was Young’s favorite part of the celebration.
Despite the good time had by many members, The Korean Culture Association generally has meetings smaller than this one.
“About two or three times a year we have big meetings with food. We always get together for the big holidays,” said Byung Lee, a freshman studying biology and a member of the association.
Korean Thanksgiving, the inspiration for this particular party, is one of Korea’s most celebrated holidays.
“There are two main holidays in Korea — New Year’s and Thanksgiving — and Thanksgiving there is celebrated for three days. This year, Korean Thanksgiving was a little more than two weeks ago,” said Carlee Jenkins, a senior studying health science and a returned missionary South Korea who translated Friday night.
The Korean Culture Association invites members to meet together, teaches the Korean language and practices playing the traditional Korean drums. For more information about how to become involved, contact Chul at par05034@byui.edu.
