why do koreans eat rice cakes on independence day central pa july 4th shooting

Tteokguk (떡국) is a Korean soup made with rice cakes and is traditionally eaten on the Lunar New Year to bring good luck in the coming year and grant one more year of age. Have you tried Tteok (떡), Korea’s traditional rice cake? While Korean cuisine has gained international recognition, many people have yet to experience the delightful world of Tteok. But Tteok is more than just a dessert—it’s a food deeply woven into Korea’s history and traditions. Koreans traditionally eat tteokguk or rice cake soup on Lunar New Year's Day, the equivalent perhaps of the Anglophone countries' Christmas turkey. "Eat tteokguk to get one year older," children are told in the old saying, but when older people eat tteokguk they know that another year has flown by. Baekil (백일; 百日), a baby's 100th day, is celebrated with a feast including rice, sea mustard soup, steamed white rice cakes (백설기; baekseolgi), and five-colored songpyeon with the family's friends and relatives. The rice cakes are distributed to neighbors. The white rice cake represents innocence, and the five-colored songpyeon harmony. Discover how Koreans eat rice cakes in street food, desserts, and traditions. Explore recipes, toppings, and their cultural significance. During picnics and get-togethers, family and friends typically share foods like kimbap, a wrapped rice dish packed with meats and veggies. Sharing food with others is a symbol of solidarity that embodies the spirit of Independence Day. Why Do Koreans Eat Tteokguk on New Year’s Day? Symbol of a New Beginning: The round rice cakes in tteokguk represent the sun, symbolizing a fresh start. Gaining a Year in Age: In Korean culture, eating tteokguk signifies gaining a year in age. It’s a delicious way to welcome growth and maturity for the year ahead. The reason for eating Tteokguk on Lunar New Year’s morning is that the pure white rice cakes and soup symbolize a fresh start, forgetting all the bad things that happened in the past year. Tteokguk, a soup made with sticky rice cakes called tteok, is a dish people eat on New Year’s Day, when every Korean gets a year older at the same time. People who are sensitive about their age refuse to eat a bowl. Young kids ask if they will gain two years if they eat two bowls. In the vibrant tapestry of Korean cuisine, rice cakes hold a special place, known as “tteok” in Korean. These delectable treats are crafted from steamed glutinous rice flour and come in a myriad of shapes, sizes, and flavors. Koreans have a custom of eating Tteokguk (rice cake soup) to celebrate the New Year.The act of eating Tteokguk is often said to symbolize gaining another year of age.But why do Koreans eat Tteokguk during the New Year?According to the Korea Traditional Food Institute, the exact origins of eating Tteokguk during Lunar New Year are unclear. However, it is documented in historical records such as An indispensable dish in Korea on Seollal (Lunar New Year) is tteokguk (soup with thinly sliced rice cake). This food reflects the wish of Korea's ancestors to start a new year solemnly and cleanly like the whiteness of the tteok (rice cake) in the soup. During Seollal, Koreans hold Charye, Sebae and eat Tteokguk. One of the customs associated with this public holiday is that Koreans age one year during this day, and eating a bowl of rice cake soup is customary. (Samiljeol) – Independence Movement Day – 3.1 절 Date: March 1 Modern Variations of Tteokguk and Their Meanings Tteokguk, the traditional Korean rice cake soup, is not just a delicious dish enjoyed on New Year’s Day; it has evolved over the years, leading to a variety of modern interpretations that reflect both cultural significance and culinary creativity. The white color of the rice cake represents purity and a clean slate for the year ahead. When and Why Do Koreans Eat Tteokguk? Tteokguk is traditionally eaten on the morning of Seollal, the Korean Lunar New Year. It is said that eating a bowl of Tteokguk adds one year to a person’s age, making it a symbolic dish for welcoming the new year. Seollal (Lunar New Year; first day of the lunar calendar) is one of the most celebrated national holidays in Korea. While many observe Sinjeong (Solar New Year; January 1 of the Gregorian/Western calendar), most Koreans celebrate Seollal, which usually lasts for three days (the day of, the day before, and the day after). This year, Seollal falls on February 16 of the Gregorian calendar. Longevity: Long, white rice cakes are associated with longevity, while the broth represents a wish for good health and a long life. Respect for ancestors: In ancient Korea, Tteokguk was offered to ancestors as a way to express gratitude for the harvest. While rice cakes are prevalent in Asia, Korean tteok (떡) is unique to the Korean culture. Though, nowadays, rice cake shops have drastically decreased since the introduction of Western bakeries and baked goods, and as a consequence, the total national rice consumption is plummeting year after year. Rice cakes, known as “tteok” in Korean, have been a staple food in Korean culture for centuries. The history of rice cakes dates back to the Silla Dynasty (57 BC-935 AD), where they were served as a symbol of good luck and prosperity. During the Lunar New Year celebrations, Koreans eat tteokguk (떡국) a soup made with rice cakes and usually sliced meat and green onion. Recipes can vary from family to family or by region, but the tteok is the essential ingredient. So where did this tradition come from? Tteokguk is said to bring good luck when eaten on Lunar New Year.

why do koreans eat rice cakes on independence day central pa july 4th shooting
Rating 5 stars - 1086 reviews




Blog

Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.

Video