The school halls and classrooms are empty here in Korea. Well, all of them except the American schools on bases, that is. Jun still went off on his school bus today- all regular like- with promises of fun when he got back. But he was ok with that. Probably because he has no idea that the Korean kids around him have today off.
Growing up in America I heard about Children's day but I didn't actually experience it. In Hawaii we had May Day on May 1st with lots of elaborate Hawaiian hula pageants and flower leis. And since the Japanese culture is pretty dominant, that meant May 5th was Boy's day. At school we had little class parties where the boys got served first and the girls had to put the boys chairs up on their desks at the end of the day for them and let them get lunch first or something. (Incidentally, I think in Japan it is now Children's day in May 5th too and this tradition of just it being Boy's day is old? I think. But in Hawaii it's still pretty separated between Boy's and Girl's day.) At home, my parents would mention something about Children's day in Korea, but gifts never appeared and we never went out even for dinner or anything so it always sort of passed as one of those bits of information they threw at you about your culture that you never really grasped. Or at least that's how it was for me. I think that's how it is a lot with Konglish life. You can't experience a 100% of both cultures, but when you miss something you really don't know that you are. So it's interesting to finally be here to see what it is I've been missing.
You know what? It's a big deal.
The kids get a day off from school. Which means that the parents schedule to take off from work as it's also an age in korea when there are more and more two income families. Which means that there are a lot of businesses today either closed down or running low staffed. Requirements of the day are to spoil your child rotten. They get gifts and treats and taken out for a day of pure fun. Apparently the gifts and treats can come from anyone. Gracie and I just returned from picking up a carton of eggs at our local market where the cashier gave my very excited little girl a plastic bag full of candies, packets of cookies and sweet yogurt drinks. Lots of admission prices for various amusement parks and similar places are waived today. That means a lot of Kimbaps are being packed (along with Choco pies and Pororo drinks) as I type this in anticipation of a day of fun at whatever fun place the child chooses. You can bet that nobody in this family will be going anywhere near any of these places anytime today. We will be staying far far away from the madness. I shudder to think of the lines and crowds.
Not that Children's day will pass quietly this year for our family. I do admit we are getting swept up in the excitement. I want it to be different for my kids than it was for me. I still like that they can celebrate how other cultures celebrate things in May (and isn't it interesting how all of these fun things fall in May? there's Cinco de Mayo too!) but we have this cool one that's our own all this time. When I explained what the day was for, Jun, whose behaviors sometimes overshadows his accomplishments, puffed up and said "I'm a children! The day is for me!"
When Jun gets home today we will celebrate their childhood. There will be gifts for him and Gracie. Books mostly. Hardback ones to fill out their library. Then we will probably gorge on video games for him and play some beauty shop for her and then eat a dinner of their choice. Probably keem and rice with chocolate milk (I never understood how they could stomach this combo!) But before dinner, a prayer of thanks for these lovely children who fill this home and our lives with such love and joy.
A wish for all our Kimchi children today: May they grow healthy and strong into compassionate people who change the world for the better.
- jooliyah who will be playing a mario game on the wii and getting her toenail painted by a three year old in a few hours after writing this.