Thursday, July 17, 2014

[Terry's Tale] Happy Birthday! Sang Il Chukha Druimmnida!

Recently my friend Mr. Han’s mother celebrated her birthday.  I had previously witnessed celebrations for two of his daughters, Han, Hye-rhim, and Han, Cho-ah, but they were much more low key than the kinds of celebrational activities common for children in the US, and his even his father’s celebration which was simply a complete family gathering for a common meal followed by cake. 

Now I was able to view something more.  This celebration brought together the entire family at a special restaurant.  The entire family consists of Mr. Han, his wife, his children, his parents, his sister and her husband, and their children.  The talk was family gathering type talk probably common to people of families anywhere in the world who do not often see each other; the children’s play was common to children’s play anywhere in the world; and the sharing of the common family meal is experienced by most people around the world.

The cake was little different than one might buy or make in the US – a white cake with a whipped topping, with decorative topping additions consisting of articles of chocolate, fruit, and even some made from the topping itself.  With the final addition of the candles and the ceremony of lighting them comes a brief rendition of the 'Happy Birthday' song in Korean (Sang il Chukha druimnida) followed by the ceremony of blowing out the candles


The candles, though perhaps a bit different in appearance than what I was accustomed to seeing in the US, still represent the years of one’s life as bright points of light – light which is passed on to their heirs and others through wisdom.

The restaurant


ABOVE AND BELOW:  The Menus (the prices are in
 \an and range from about $11.00 and up)


BELOW: The accessory items










BELOW: Turtles bringing money for prosperity


BELOW: The entree dishes
ABOVE: A stewed chicken

ABOVE: Octopus legs and other seafood in a special sauce


ABOVE:  A vegetable mix waiting for the addition of rice and sauce - Bibimbop


ABOVE: A very delicious rice porridge


ABOVE:  A  chicken stewed in a special sauce


ABOVE: Mr. Han's parents and the youngest daughter (Han, Cho-ah) to my right, his sister in the far corner, her husband in the left foreground, and the four children (two from each family) view the cake and its candle decorations. 

BELOW: The drink for the final toast





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