History

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The most well-known of all Korean foods is probably kim-chi, marinated and fermented side dish made out of various vegetables, usually Napa cabbage. Kim-chi is usually served with most Koran dishes. Another popular dish is called bul-go-gi, which is sliced beef marinated with soy sauce and other ingredients. On the New Year’s Day, we cook rice cake soup with beef broth.

In Korea, the way of counting your age is different than America’s. When you are born, you are already counted as one year old. You age one more year on New Year’s Day regardless of what month you were born. So Koreans say you will not age until you eat rice cake soup.

In present day wedding ceremonies, Korean people practice a combination of western style and traditional Korean style called pye-back. After the western ceremony is over, the bride and groom change their wedding dress and tuxedo into a traditional wedding costume. They pay respect to the elders of the extended family similar to se-bae. The family members in return will bless the newlywed couple by throwing chestnuts and dates, which symbolize future children, to a cloth that the couple is holding. They also give the couple an envelope with money as their wedding present.

As you can see, my family has a very interesting past, and while I was doing this research, I found out a lot about my family and the traditions of Koreans. I am proud to be a Korean-American and I am glad to be part of American culture.

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[pic 1]

A shrine for Al-Pyong Yi, the very first ancestor of Kyungju Yi’s

[pic 2][pic 3]

Korean traditional wedding ceremony called pye-back.

[pic 4]

Kim Chi

[pic 5]

Bul-go-gi