December 22, Dongji, the Day with the Shortest Daylight and Longest Night
"Eating Patjuk on Dongji Adds One Year to Your Age" Custom
Unified Age System Starting June Next Year... Up to 2 Years Younger
On the 22nd, Dongji (冬至), the day with the shortest daylight and longest night according to the 24 solar terms, red bean porridge shops are expected to be busier than usual.
Dongji means "arrival of winter," when the sun is tilted furthest south, making it the day with the shortest daylight and longest night of the year.
Since ancient times, it has been customary to enjoy red bean porridge on Dongji.
On the 22nd, Dongji Day, officials are distributing red bean porridge to citizens at the Small Seol Dongji event held at Namsangol Hanok Village in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@
"The red color drives away bad energy"…custom of sprinkling it on gates and doors
The custom of enjoying red bean porridge originates from folk beliefs that the reddish color of the porridge drives away bad energy and prevents infectious diseases.
An old book called "Haedongjukji (海東竹枝)" records, "Each household cooks porridge with red beans and sprinkles it on the door as a talisman substitute."
People sprinkled it on gates or walls near doors to ward off bad energy.
There was also a custom of making traditional Korean socks called beoseon to wish for the longevity of elders.
"You really grow one year older only after eating red bean porridge" custom
There is also a custom of adding rice cake balls (saealsim) to the red bean porridge according to the family members' ages, and it is said that you only truly grow one year older after eating the porridge.
Therefore, people encourage family, relatives, and neighbors to eat red bean porridge, saying, "You really grow older only after eating red bean porridge."
Sales of red bean porridge products by food companies have also increased ahead of Dongji. CJ CheilJedang announced that sales of their Hetbahn Softmeal red bean porridge products (Dongji red bean porridge and whole red bean porridge) from the 12th to the 18th doubled compared to the previous week (5th to 11th).
Unified international age system from June next year…up to 2 years younger
Meanwhile, there is no need to feel regretful about aging after eating red bean porridge on Dongji.
From June next year, you could be up to two years younger.
On the 8th, the National Assembly passed partial amendments to the Civil Act and the Framework Act on Administrative Procedures, clearly defining the use of international age. The amendments will take effect six months after promulgation. International age can be up to two years less than the traditional Korean age before one’s birthday.
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