Korean ceremonial food facts for kids

Korean families have special traditions for important life events. These customs mostly started during the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910). Back then, Korea followed a way of thinking called Confucianism. This led to four main family ceremonies: coming-of-age, weddings, funerals, and honoring ancestors. These events are still very important in Korea today. Special foods are a big part of these traditions. The types of food can change depending on the region.

Welcoming a New Baby

When a baby is born, families prepare a special table called samshin sang (삼신상; 三神床). This table has three bowls of rice and three bowls of miyeok guk (Korean sea mustard soup). This food is offered to the three gods of childbirth (삼신; 三神; samshin). The number three is thought to be very lucky in Korea. The new mother also eats this same food. Sea mustard soup is good for new mothers because it has lots of iron and calcium.

Baby's 100th Day (Baekil)

Baekil (백일; 百日) is when a baby turns 100 days old. This is a big celebration! Families have a feast with friends and relatives. They eat rice, sea mustard soup, and special steamed white rice cakes (백설기; baekseolgi). They also have five-colored songpyeon rice cakes. The white rice cakes show innocence. The five-colored songpyeon represent harmony. Families share these rice cakes with their neighbors.

First Birthday (Dol)

A baby's first birthday is called dol (돌). It's a very colorful event! The baby wears a fancy, bright outfit. The family prepares a lot of food. This includes rice, sea mustard soup, white rice cakes, and five-colored songpyeon. They also have steamed noodles and jujube fruits.

Foretelling the Future

On the dol table, various objects are placed. These can be a book, coins, raw rice, or a bow and arrow for a boy. For a girl, a ruler might be there. Family and friends watch to see what the baby touches first. This tradition is believed to show the baby's future. For example, touching a book might mean they will be a scholar. Touching coins could mean they will be rich! Rice cakes are also shared with neighbors on this special day.

Coming-of-Age Ceremony (Gwallye)

The Gwallye (관례; 冠禮) is a ceremony for young people. It usually happens between the ages of 15 and 20. After this ceremony, young men used to wear a sangtu (상투; a traditional topknot hairstyle). They also wore a gat (a traditional hat). Young women would wear a jjok (쪽; a traditional bun hairstyle). They would also wear a binyeo (a traditional hairpin).

Foods for the Ceremony

Special foods for gwallye include rice wine, rice cake, noodle soup, sikhye, and sujunggwa. Today, this ceremony is not often performed on its own. It has become part of the wedding ceremony. Also, most Koreans no longer wear these traditional hairstyles.

Wedding Ceremony (Hollye)

In a traditional Korean wedding, called hollye (혼례; 婚禮), a special table is set up. It's called daeryesang (대례상; 大禮床). This table sits between the groom and the bride. The items on the table can be different in various regions.

Wedding Table Items

Usually, the daeryesang has rice wine, rice cakes, chestnuts, and jujubes. It also has a vase with a pine branch and a bamboo branch. There are red and blue candles. A live rooster and hen, wrapped in red and blue cloth, are also on the table. Blue represents the groom, and red represents the bride. Chestnuts and jujubes mean a long life and many children. Pine and bamboo show loyalty. The groom and bride bow to each other. They share rice wine from a special decorated gourd cup.

Pyebaek Ceremony

After the main wedding, the bride's family prepares foods for the groom's parents. This is called pyebaek. Chestnuts and jujubes are given to the groom's father. Pyeonpo (steamed beef patty), yukpo (Korean beef jerky), and braised chicken are given to the mother. The groom's father also gives jujubes to his new daughter-in-law. This also means good wishes for many children. Noodle soup is usually served to wedding guests. It represents a long and happy life.

Funeral (Sangrye)

In a traditional Korean funeral, called sangrye (상례; 喪禮), people who are mourning stay up all night. They often gather in the funeral hall. Alcoholic drinks are usually served. Foods like pork or beef head meat (머릿고기; meoritgogi) and yukgaejang are also common. Yukgaejang is a spicy beef soup. The red chili pepper powder in it is believed to protect guests from bad spirits.

Ancestral Rite (Jerye)

Jerye (제례; 祭禮) or jesa (제사; 祭祀) is a Korean tradition to honor ancestors. It is performed on Seol (Lunar New Year's Day), Chuseok (Korean harvest festival), and on the anniversaries of ancestors' deaths. There are rules for how to set the table for these rites. These rules come from Confucian writings. However, the exact setup can be different depending on the region and family.

General Rules for Table Setting

• First row: Rice, rice wine, a spoon, and chopsticks are placed here.
• Second row: Noodle soup, rice cakes, beef soup, chicken soup, and fish soup are placed. Rice cakes go on the eastern side of the table. Noodles go on the western side.
• Third row: Meat and fish dishes are placed. Fish goes on the eastern side, and meat on the western side.
• Fourth row: Kimchi (made without chili pepper) and vegetable dishes are placed. Kimchi goes on the eastern side. Other vegetables go on the western side.
• Fifth row: Fruits like jujubes, apples, pears, and chestnuts are placed. Sweets are also here. Red fruits go on the eastern side. White fruits go on the western side.

Foods Not Used in Rites

Some foods are not allowed in ancestral rites. These are foods traditionally believed to scare away spirits. This includes red chili pepper, garlic, and peaches. Fish without scales were once thought to be unclean, so they are not used. Also, fish whose names end with "chi" (치) are not placed on the table. Examples are anchovy (멸치; myeolchi), mackerel pike (꽁치; kkongchi), and cutlassfish (갈치; galchi). These were once considered common or cheap.

Regional Differences

The food used for these ceremonies can change a lot from one region to another. This is because of different local cultures and what foods are available. For example, grilled shark is offered in ceremonies in the Gyeongsang province. Skate dishes are common in the Jeolla province.