Koreans Burn the Moon`s House for Good Luck
[www.ntdtv.com 2011-05-26 03:51]
In Korea, villagers burn a symbolic house built for the moon, called daljip. It’s performed in the hope of getting rid of bad luck, and ensuring a good crop for the New Year. People tie their wishes to the “house” before it’s set alight.
The ceremony of burning the moon’s house has been performed for hundreds of years, and traditionally would only be done on the first full moon of the lunar New Year. But now it’s mainly performed to bring good luck for a special event, or just for entertainment at any time of the year.
This ceremony is being performed for the International Spring Kite Festival in Uiseong, South Korea. Musicians perform a Korean folk dance,‘Pungmul’ around the moon’s house.
The house is made of pine trees and branches. Hung inside is a replica of the moon made of hay.
[Youngja Heo, Director, Uiseong Cultural Center]:
“Dear Moon be my witness! Please give us a bumper crop! We ask this to the heaven, the earth and gods.”
After the director reads the wishes, the fire is lit. The heat from the fire is intense.
According to ancient Korean belief, this act predicts the year’s fortune. If the house burns well and quickly it foretells good fortune. But if the fire goes out without burning the whole house, it could mean bad luck for the whole year.
[Cneeang Varin, Cambodian Tourist]:
“I have never seen this before. It’s great. Even I don’t know what is it. But I think that I heard so I want to see this.”
[Michael Alvares, Australian Tourist]:
“This is amazing to see this bonfire and everybody makes a wish and puts it on the end and hopefully their wishes will come true. I’ve never seen something as big as this before and it’s very exciting. I can feel the heat on my back.”
While the real meaning of the ritual is fast fading the crowd’s reaction never fails to be bright and cheerful.
NTD, Uiseong, South Korea.