JIRO Local, Now

Hello, this is JIRO! As we welcome June, we're back with the second post in our Korean Seasonal Customs Series. This time, we're introducing Dano, a traditional Korean holiday celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month. This year, Dano falls on June 19 (Friday) on the solar calendar, so it's just around the corner! Let's take a look at how people in Korea have celebrated this special day throughout history. Driving Away Misfortune and Welcoming Abundance  Dano  (Korea’s High-Energy Summer Festival) The Most Energetic Day of the Year! This year, Dano falls on June 19 (Fri). Dano falls on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, when the yang number five is doubled.  It is also called Suritnal, meaning “ the High Day ” or “ the Joyful Day. ” Dano was one of the three most important holidays during the Joseon Dynasty! Dano is a holiday when people celebrate and rest after harvesting barley and finishing rice planting . It also carries the meaning of a farming ritual to pr...

Hello everyone, this is JIRO!  We are excited to launch a new series exploring Korean Seasonal Customs, following the beautiful transition of the seasons throughout the year. Our first journey begins with "Dong-je," a sacred ritual performed in spring to wish for peace and prosperity in local villages. Curious to learn about this ancient tradition? Let’s dive right in! Dong-je : A Prayer for All Peace Blossoms in our Village this Spring 'Dong-je' is a collective rite held by residents to ensure the peace of their village. Offerings for the ritual had to be kept pure and sacred.  To ensure this, red clay was scattered near the well, and a sacred rope (Geumjul) or straw mats were used to block access. Only water drawn from this protected well was used to prepare the sacred offerings . On the day of the ritual, people gathered at the sacred site after midnight, around the time of the first rooster's crow, to begin the ceremony . The ceremony followed a sacred sequenc...