This is the year of monkeys and both my parents were monkeys.
They would be 96 this year, in American age.
In Korea you are one year old on the day you are born and the next new year day, you age one more year. So my mother who was born on the new year's eve was two years old on her second day of her birth.
The monkeys are known to be clever and good with hands.
My mother was both but my father?....
So, I am 61, officially until July 14th this year, but I am already 63 in Korea. When I am asked how old I am by a Korean, I answer two ways... No wonder we are very good with math...
My cousin is the oldest son of the 12th generations. He and his wife inherited the land of his ancestors with the responsibilities to take care of their graves and at least 14 yearly ceremonies. There used to be a lot more ceremonies but they simplified...
For five generations, from his parents and up, they remember their day of death at midnight, and from the sixth generation and up, they do it all together four times a year.
All the names for 11 generations are handwritten and kept in a box of their own for each couple.
In Korea in the house of the eldest son, the most important items is the boxes containing their ancestors names. It's called Shin-Ju Box (신주). The expression "as precious as Shin-Ju Box" is still used.
My uncle built a special place to keep all the Shin-Ju boxes for his ancestors and was very proud.
They still do the ceremonies at midnight for the spirits to come and eat their food on their death date. And if you fall asleep before midnight, your eyebrows will turn white because your ancestors are upset with you (and a little help with oil and flour). It happened to me once when I was quite young and let me tell you, I never fell asleep before any ceremony again!
The ceremonies on the new year day and on the Korean Thanksgiving day, it's held in the morning.
No young women want to marry the eldest sons in Korea just because of the ceremonies, I heard.
It costs about $300 for each ceremony according to the polls. You have to have certain foods in certain order and always in odd numbers... But many young people are modifying the ceremonies and pretty soon, I am sure there will be pizzas on some tables.
The lunar new year's day is the biggest gift exchanging day of the year as well. The markets are busy and packages are very well presented.
The three generations of eldest sons. The youngest one is only 9 years old but he was very well trained and quite attentive and willing which actually surprised me.
