Birthdays in Korea … and other dirty laundry exposed.

It should be a safe bet that those reading this blog know of the lunar calendar – not so much know its mechanics, but rather know its function with regards to important dates like Lunar New Year and the Lunar Festival – and also birthdays.

Because my parents are twice removed from China and thus weren’t brought up using the lunar calendar, I found Jean Yoon’s radio documentary ‘My Mother’s Birthday’ quite fascinating. (The same Jean Yoon found here.)

I was already familiar with most of what she spoke about as a friend of mine, who also happens to be Korean, doesn’t really know her ‘real’ date of birth. For all she knows, she could be twice as old or young as her papers say. What I didn’t know, was the stigma surrounding having a girl of a certain year and fudging dates to appease future-in-laws. *cue airing of dirty laundry.*

It’s a rather humourous take on an old tradition that still continues to be fiercely followed.

My parents, however, while traditional are honest to a fault eventhough I was born in the year of the Horse.

Podcasted from CBC.ca …

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About Xxxtine

The main Canuck here I (sometimes) give a different perspective. I used to be 'read only' but you can actually hear me via POP 88 on 8Asians podcasting sister site Popcast88.com. Always trying to find that right balance between fluff and substance, I tend to focus my interests in discovering different perspectives. Look forward to hearing (and perhaps seeing) things you wouldn't anywhere else. Current vice and embarrassingly obsessed with: Kpop group AFTER SCHOOL
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