Koreans also celebrate August 15

My trip to Seoul was postponed for a month to give me the opportunity to see Koreans celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival on August 15. Their grandeur is not seen in China, and preparations have been made early to welcome them.

On the afternoon of September 25, on the highway from Busan to Seoul, I encountered traffic jams in both directions several times. The traffic jam from the direction of Seoul lasted the longest, just like when we were on holiday. The tour guide said that these were all people who rushed back to their hometown in advance to prepare for August 15. Tomorrow is the last working day, and then there will be a national holiday one day in advance for August 15, and there will be a total of four days off for two days off plus rest days. Tomorrow will be more congested.

I used to know from the Korean dramas I watched that they also celebrated August 15 and the Spring Festival. I also know that their August 15 meaning is a little different from my country, we are just reunited, and they have to sacrifice when they are reunited. To be precise, it's a bit like our Qingming. However, there were still three days to go before 15 August, and it was completely unexpected. So, ask the Korean tour guide. She said: There are two major festivals in our country, namely the Spring Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival on 15 August. The Spring Festival is the same as you, August 15 is for sacrifice. On this day, all those who work outside the home return to the homes of their elders. We have to make a variety of dishes and pastries, and there are basically more than 30 kinds of them. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare in advance, which is often started a week in advance. The convoy just now was all prepared by the daughters-in-law who went back to the elders' houses in advance. On the day of the festival, you have to wear a hanbok. After kneeling in front of the spiritual seat of the ancestors, please bring out the dishes and chopsticks used by the ancestors and put them on the main seat of the table to dine with us. We are grateful for all that our ancestors have brought us.

Then she talked about the specific process that was even more exciting than what I saw in Korean dramas. It feels like their August 15th is exactly like our Qingming Festival. Hearing this, I was stunned and reminded of my ancestors. But our Qingming life is not as grand as theirs. South Korea, which pays attention to traditional etiquette, has many festivals that are the same as our country, and these were originally our festivals, but after they were transmitted to South Korea, they had a more festive atmosphere and a stronger flavor. This is something that deserves our reflection. Everyone should never forget where they came from. Inheritance and gratitude go hand in hand.

When I arrived in Seoul, I felt that the atmosphere of the festival was even stronger, just like we did before the Chinese New Year. From August 14, shops on non-tourist streets are closed, and the streets are deserted.

Three days in Seoul were enjoyable. I went to all the famous spots and happily put on a hanbok. In Seoul, the Blue House is a must-visit. In terms of location, the Cheong Wa Dae Presidential Office is still very attractive to me. With the green mountains in the background, it is still very spectacular. Of course, looking at the historical city, as Chinese tourists say, it is incomparable with Beijing Xi'an.

Of all the attractions in Seoul, my favorite place to visit is Lotte World. Lotte World is the world's largest indoor theme park, which has been entered into the Guinness Book of World Records. There's everything you can eat, play, and see here. I'm a fan of Korean dramas, and there's a scene I've always longed for, which is the scene of the protagonist on the merry-go-round. Today, when the lights are on, I came as I wished, and I saw the same effect as in TV. It's just that I was worried about getting sick, so I didn't sit on it and live an addiction. However, when the music started and the horse spun, the people on the horse were happy, and I was happy.

During the grand puppet show that night, fireworks were set off to celebrate the festival. Looking at the bright flowers in the night sky, I smiled happily when I was in a foreign country for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Because, there are not many opportunities to see fireworks in the Mid-Autumn Festival, and I feel very lucky.

On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, I also saw a grand performance of folk customs in the park, and the young people's skillful performance of throwing hats and long braids danced won the applause of tourists!

On the second day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, we came to the '38th line' to visit. I wanted to see North Korea on the other side, but I saw another side and shed tears here.

At the observation deck of the 38th parallel, looking in the direction of North Korea, you can see a bare mountain. In front of him, the Korean side is beautiful mountains and rivers, thousands of acres of fertile fields, and the ripe rice is golden, and it is a bumper harvest scene.

After inquiry, it was learned that the reason why the mountains in the direction of North Korea were bare was because they needed to defend South Korea, so that they could see the other side's movements clearly. I understand, on the Korean side, along the Han River, there are iron nets.

At this moment, I heard the familiar and unfamiliar sound of birds. I hurriedly looked up and saw geese flying in the sky, and they were lined up with two groups of geese, forming a big flock of geese with the word "human", flying into the distance together. When I saw the flock of geese, tears came out. It's been a long, long time since I've seen a flock of geese. The last time I saw each other, it was the autumn when I left my hometown and came to Xi'an for the last time the wild goose flew south. At that time, I was young and didn't know what it was like to be sad, and at my grandfather's place in my hometown, I would see geese flying south in the wheat field at the head of the village every year (I have no impression of returning to the north). When you hear the call, you will see the geese changing positions in the sky, but they are always in a 'human' line. I will always watch the geese fly into the distance as I do today. In the process, I am always worried that the goose will fall behind, and I am even more afraid that the goose will fall. Therefore, my little heart will be happy and happy after the geese have flown completely. It was a fond memory of growing up with me.

Such a scene will never be seen in the sky above the city. Therefore, it is more precious to see it in a foreign country today. It's really a trip to the '38th line', an unexpected gain.

In the northwest corner of this visiting area, a large venue caught my eye. There is a tall archway with a line of Chinese and Korean characters on it. The Chinese character is 'in the north of the father', and there are many large flower baskets on both sides. The Korean tour guide said that it was yesterday, that is, the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the North Koreans in South Korea could not return to their hometown to worship their ancestors, so they came to the nearest place to North Korea and looked in the direction of North Korea to worship. This is a special government opening. On this day, many people are crying here, and the TV will also be broadcast, which is very touching.

After hearing her say this, I walked through the square alone to that location and saw a lot of offerings and flowers around. Looking north, I could clearly see the mountains in North Korea where there were no trees and no grass growing. At that time, when I was looking at the observation deck, I still felt that the North Korean side really did not know how to plan and wasted resources. At this time, standing here and looking at it, the feeling is completely different. Intuitively, the North Korean side planted nothing on the mountain, so that the wanderer could see his hometown more clearly.

The environment is contagious. I felt like the other side of Bald Mountain was my hometown, and I was in love when I looked at it. Also, I think of the wild geese that flew over just now, and they flew from North Korea in the north. They flew south after August 15 in the north. Thinking of this, my heart was sad again, and tears came down again.

When I look at it affectionately, I have a lot of thoughts. A family of three, three generations of men (they are in the photo), came to the stage. They put their offerings and began to worship with solemn expressions. From old to young, kowtow in turn. The old man's expression was mournful. After the ceremony, watch as three generations of their grandparents take selfies with the worship scene behind them. The old man's son did not have enough arm length, and he adjusted it repeatedly. I volunteered to serve them. The old man had a misunderstanding with me because he couldn't understand Chinese and English. The old man's expression was angry and furious. Although I don't understand North Korean, I guessed from his expression that the old man was a media person and wanted to expose them. I smiled and repeatedly said in Chinese and English that I was Chinese and a tourist. His son also kept explaining to him, and in the Korean language he spoke, I understood the three words 'Chairman Mao', the handsome young man 'Chairman Mao' and 'Chairman Mao' told his old man. The old man suddenly smiled with an unnatural expression and said in Chinese, 'I can't hear clearly, I can't hear clearly'. At this time, I laughed too.

The old man's son and I exchanged a few words in English and learned that they had come from Jeju Island and came every year. When he was about to explain his father's attitude, I interrupted him and told him that I understood. He said that his father's words 'I can't hear clearly' meant to apologize to me. He also said that the old man was a Japanese newspaper person.

I took a group photo of them with the place of worship in the background. The man said that his father had always felt that this group photo was important, and that North Korea was in the picture. In the time that followed, whenever I met the old man, he would smile embarrassedly and say, 'I can't hear clearly, I can't hear clearly.'" I'll smile sincerely and nod my head.

Later, more families came to worship, and crying was heard in the distance. The tour guide said that because there were too many people yesterday, they didn't squeeze in front of them yesterday.

Looking at the scene of North Koreans in South Korea worshipping their ancestors in the direction of their hometown. It makes me feel that August 15 is a festival of reunion, because in Korea, I have experienced a completely different meaning.

Therefore, the Mid-Autumn Festival in 2015 is an unforgettable August 15 for me.

2015－9－28