29 May 2010, Posted by Matt in Art & Culture, Buddhist Temples, Festivals & Holidays, Seoul, 3 Comments

Seoul’s Lotus Lantern Festival

The Lotus Lantern Festival began centuries ago. Today, the tradition of making and hanging lanterns as symbolic offerings of light and compassion in a world too often filled with darkness and suffering continues.

21 Apr 2009, Posted by Matt in Buddhist Temples, Festivals & Holidays, Food & Drink, Historic Korea, Seoul, 4 Comments

Seoul’s Lotus Lantern Festival 2009

The Lotus Lantern Festival (Photo courtesy of Festival organizers)

Can you tell it’s festival season in Korea?

Well, if this is news to you, starting on April 24, Korea’s Buddhist community will celebrate the birth of the Buddha with an extravagant, 11-day festival of light called the Lotus Lantern Festival (연등축제). Buddha’s birthday is celebrated on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, which, this year falls on May 2nd.

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19 Nov 2008, Posted by Matt in Art & Culture, Best of DK.com, Historic Korea, Jeolla, 15 Comments

Jeonju’s Hanok Village (Part 1)

The Jeonju Hanok Village in North Jeolla Province is a great place to sample Korea’s traditional food, tea, paper-making and hanok architecture.

02 Sep 2008, Posted by Matt in Chungcheong, Festivals & Holidays, Food & Drink, Gyeongsang, Historic Korea, Jeolla, Nature, Seoul, 2 Comments

Autumn 2008 Festivals Calendar

Autumn is my favorite season in Korea, when balmy days replace the heat and humidity of summer! It’s the best time to get out and discover one of Korea’s many festivals. Here’s a rundown of what to see this month:

Geumsan Insam (Ginseng) Festival (Geumsan, South Chungcheong Province)
August 29-September 7
Geumsan is famous for its high-quality ginseng. The Insam Festival, which has been held every September since 1981, is a traditional cultural event in which villagers pray for a good harvest the following year. Programs include ginseng harvesting, performances of traditional arts and rituals, concerts, an international ginseng trade fair, a ginseng cooking competition and more. (more info: 041-750-2391 or www.geumsan.go.kr/festival)

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