Author Archives: John Barrett

Korean 1st Birthday

Informant:

Dahbin is a Korean man from Portland, Oregon whose parents are, as he puts it, “extremely conservative Koreans who take traditions weirdly and annoyingly seriously.”

Original Script:

Dahbin: “A Korean’s first birthday is, like, a huge deal. Like, it goes on for five days. In the past, Korea was extremely poor, so most babies would not live to see their first birthday. So, like, in Korea, when you’re born you are considered a one year old already because they want to be able to say that the baby lived at least for one year before it died. Basically, a Korean’s first birthday is more like a huge party, almost like a five day bar mitzvah (laughs).”

Context:

When a Korean turns one year old.

My Thoughts:

I like how the Koreans have taken such a sad phenomenon of their past and turned it into such a positive celebration in the present. Growing up in Korea years ago must have been extremely difficult, but nowadays they celebrate the lives of the living children by making their first birthdays such a great spectacle. This tradition truly puts life into perspective, showing me just how lucky I was to have grown up in such a great place.

Korean New Years

Informant:

Dahbin is a Korean man from Portland, Oregon whose parents are, as he puts it, “extremely conservative Koreans who take traditions weirdly and annoyingly seriously.”

Original Script:

Dahbin: “So New Years Day is, like, a pretty big deal in Korea, and on that day everyone wears, like, a super traditional outfit, with, like, you know, the long coats or whatever (laughs). Then you go to your elders and bow to them and say, ‘I wish you a good year of wealth and for you to, like, prosper’ (laughs). Then they give you a bunch of money that’s comparable to, like, Christmas and your birthday put together. I think this day is such a big deal because, like, Korea used to be super poor, and so surviving to the next year was, like, a pretty big thing.”

Context:

Every New Year.

My Thoughts:

I find it significant how one could view Korean New Years as a holiday that is for both elders and children, for the elders receive the respect that they demand out of their children while the children also get a monetary reward. In the U.S. it seems like most holidays are purely for the joy of children other than Mother’s and Father’s Day because it seems like many holidays are excuses for kids to receive presents. Korean New Years seems to have found a way to even this playing field out so that the elders also get something they long for.

Mexican Flag

Informant:

Mario is from Mexico City, Mexico, who said himself that he is “extremely interested in his Mexican roots and traditions.”

Original Script:

“So the story goes, like, there was a man who was walking through the forest, taking in the beautiful nature of Mexico. Many people think Mexico is just, like…um, a barren desert, but, like, theres a lot of really beautiful parts. And then the man looked up and saw an eagle eating a snake on top of an old cactus. I’m honestly not sure why that scene is so significant, but that is how it went down (laughs).”

Context:

The Mexican Flag is obviously flown whenever or wherever someone is feeling patriotic towards Mexico.

My Thoughts:

What’s most interesting to me is that Mario, someone who is so truly invested in the history and traditions of his home country, does not know why Mexico chose the scene that the man saw in the forest as the one that they would put on their flag. I know why the American flag has the thirteen white and red stripes and the fifty white stars. This illustrates how patriotism is put forward in different ways by the citizens of different nations.

Argentinian Christmas Meal

Informant:

Santiago is originally from Argentina, but now resides in Miami, Florida. However, he still avidly practices his traditions that he learned in Argentina.

Cuisine:

Santiago: “Every year back in Argentina, we would have Christmas dinner with freshly…um, killed and skinned goat. Some families would have a member go and, like, find a goat out in the wild, but my family just bought a pre-skinned goat (laughs).        We would also drink a lot of mate, which is, like, a drink with made from herbs and cream and stuff. And this altogether is supposed to honor the mythical Argentinian cowboy who herded the giant herd of cows, or gauchos.”

Context:

They would practice this culinary tradition every Christmas.

My Thoughts:

I love hearing about different culture’s Christmas traditions because Christmas is my favorite holiday, and it is interesting to me to learn about how other people celebrate the holiday. Personally, I do not like the taste of goat, but I have tried mate before and I think it is extremely tasty. One day, I hope I can try to incorporate that part of the Argentinian Christmas into my own Christmas traditions.

Krumkaka

Informant:

Evan is from Seattle, Washington but is in a family that loves to practice the traditions of their Norwegian roots at home.

Cuisine:

Evan: “Krumkaka is a cookie similar to, like, a pancake, but has a little bit of a rougher consistency. So you first flatten the dough out and put it in a frier, or however you want to cook it, but you don’t let it get too hard yet. Then you take it out and like roll it out with a special cone that leaves an imprint or design in it. Then you cook it a little more to however hard or soft you want the cookie.”

Context:

Evan says that this dish is always brought out on special occasions as a surprise dessert.

My Thoughts:

Cookies are my favorite dessert and pancakes are my favorite breakfast, so this dish sounds amazing to me. I am definitely going to try making it myself soon because a mixture of two of my favorite foods sounds like heaven to me!