22.So many side dishes!

Whenever you order food in a korean restaurant they will bring you many side dishes. In Korea there are not appetizers, main dishes or that kind of dishes western restaurants have. Some restaurants, however, have adapted this western way of serving food, but there are still many that keep the korean way. It all comes at once! The basics of korean dishes are rice, soup, and kimchi. In early times, during the Joseon Era, sometimes food was described by the number of side dishes, for example: samcheop (three side dishes), chilcheop (seven side dishes). The king's table had twelve side dishes (sibicheop bansang) !!!!!!! Rice and soup are served in individual plates, while the other side dishes are placed in the center of the table so that they can be shared. Hundreds of side dishes can be found in Korea, different regions offer unique side dishes. 

As delicious as these side dishes might be, koreans meals are mostly based on rice. On the dramas I have seen, when the characters are eating rice is always present. On special occasions, instead of serving rice people serve noodles, porridge, or tteokguk. The trend of eating bread, sandwiches, or noodles for breakfast or lunch is becoming very usual, but still rice is eaten a lot in Korea. There are many cooking techniques. Soup dishes are categorized in two groups, the ones that have clear broth with some solid ingredients, which are jjigae, and the ones that are like stew with more solid ingredients, which are jeongol. Food can be boiled, pan-fried, grilled, or steamed

I don't think that I would be able to eat so much, I'm not used to that, but it's worth the try! 

21. Korean Birthday Celebrations

Have you ever hear of seaweed soup? It is a delicious korean dish made specially on birthdays. As we have our cake tradition, Koreans enjoy a delicious breakfast with seaweed soup on their birthdays. Cake is also eaten on birthdays, but seaweed is more common. There are even times when friends say hi to each other on their birthdays by saying "Have you eaten seaweed soup?". Back in the day, expectant mothers ate seaweed soup one month before birthday, as it is high in iodine and calcium, and these are thought to be beneficial for milk production and uterine contraction. Koreans are very respectful towards their ancestors, this seaweed soup stands as a symbol to remind the child that his/her mother works very hard and to be grateful towards the mother for the care she gives to them. Western customs have influenced many koreans, as they give each other birthday cards and make cakes and put the candles according to the person's age. 

A big difference between Korean and Western birthdays is that Korean age is based on the lunar calendar, while the western age is based on the solar calendar. Korean age is basically measured by year, not by the birthday, it adds 1 or 2 years to your age. In case you got confused, try this to calculate your korean age: (this year-your birthday)+1, for example (2014-1996)+1= 17. Big parties are usually made on the first birthday, the 60th and 70th birthday. 

Since in past times food was scarce and many children died, if the child made it to the first birthday it was considered a blessing. People made feasts of delicious food like rice cakes to celebrate with the family and village. This tradition still continues, people make feasts usually at hotels or restaurants. A tradition which I think its funny but I respect, is the doljabi ritual. What happens here is that the child is placed in the front of a table, and he has to choose between a string, rice, money, or book, and people make predictions of his future according to this. Maybe I will try it when I have a child. 

People share the food with friends, family, and neighbors as it is believed that if they share a lot, they will receive many things in return. A snack that is always present baekseolgi rice cake made with flour dough. Children many times even have their own photo shoot at different locations and with different clothes! Amazing isn't it? 

Sources:

http://blog.korea.net/?p=2320

http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/AK/AK_EN_1_4_9_2.jsp