Traditional Jeju Festivals and Holidays
Jeju Island is culturally different from the rest of South Korea; Jeju people celebrate several traditional festivals and holidays that depict the island’s culture and unity. These celebrations afford a rather special opportunity to study the island’s traditions, ranging from the prehistoric agricultural ones to the contemporary cultural ones.
Seongsan Sunrise Festival
Seongsan Ilchulbong or Sunrise Peak festival is celebrated annually to welcome the New Year with a view of the sunrise. People assemble themselves in the morning of the first day of the year especially on the first sunrise as a symbol of hope of a new year. There are cultural troupes who perform traditional music and dances, games and other activities and in this way, people prepare for the new year.
Jeju Fire Festival
Jeju Fire Festival is celebrated in early March and is one of the most popular festivals on Jeju Island. Originally, it was used to pray for a good harvest and to clear the fields of pests with the help of burning heaped-up grass. Today, the festival includes the burning of large bonfires, fireworks, traditional games, and dances. The most memorable part is the fire rite when the fields on Saebyeol Oreum (hill) are set on fire, and the flame looks beautiful against the dark background.
Tamna Cultural Festival
The cultural festival held in Jeju is the Tamna Cultural Festival, which was named after the historical kingdom of Tamna in Jeju. This festival that is held in October also features music, dance, and drama with a re-enactment of historical events. There is a variety of attractions that tell the story of Jeju’s folklore through its exhibits and performances; therefore, it is suitable for an event with this theme.
Iho Tewoo Festival
Iho Tewoo Festival is a festival that is held in mid summer and is all about Jeju’s fishing traditions. This festival is a representation of how the villagers used to fish for anchovies in the past by singing while they fished. The attendees can engage themselves in the fishing activities and also get to taste the local fish delicacies. It also has traditional music and dancing which makes the festival very colorful and one can really get to experience the culture.
References
“10 Best Festivals in Jeju — Unique Jeju Island Celebrations You Won’t Find Anywhere Else.” Hotels.com, www.hotels.com.
“Local Events and Festivals around Jeju Stone Park, Jeju Island.” Korea Trip Guide, www.koreatripguide.com.
“Top 10 Jeju Sites for September <Enjoyable Jeju in September>.” VisitJeju.net, m.visitjeju.net.
