새해 & 떡국 - New Year's Day & Tteokguk

Finally 2013 is gone, and a New Year, 2014 has begun. Of course,1st January is holiday in Korea. But, since we have the lunar New year's day, the lunar New year's day is more important. Even, the lunar New Year's Day is a threeday holiday.

Anyway, we eat 떡국(tteokguk) on New Year's day. Tteokguk is called rice-cake soup sometimes, but I prefer "Tteokguk" because it's proper name. :)

Except Tteokguk, I used to celebrate New Year's Day with something more like,

a cake

and

A bottle of wine

However, since my mother is sick, my family didn't celebrate the day as we used to do.

INSTEAD

I had year-end party with my close acquaintances on New Year's Eve.

And today(New Year's Day)morning, I ate Tteokguk with my family.

It's Tteokguk.

(Sorry, it usually looks better.)

Take a close up of it.

There were Korean dried seaweed, and pepper on the top.

Then, Why do we eat Tteokguk on New Year's Day?

Food of New Year's day means pureness and longevity.

The shape of tteok(rice-cake) is like yeopjeon, which is brass coin used in olden times, so it includes desire of being rich, being healthy, and long life.

Also, Tteokguk is symbol of growing a year older.

So..

No matter how much much I dislike getting old, I GREW A YEAR OLDER! :(

Anyway, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

p.s: About, Christmas. (If you wonder)





People usually spend Christmas with their family in Western country, on the other hand, people usually spend Christmas with their friends in Korea. So, streets are so crowded, I would like prefer at home because I don't like crowded streets. :P

But

I don't forget to celebrate Christmas by eating a cake. 

But if you hang out, 

you can see streets in the Christmas mood! :D