By Honorary Reporter Wendy Palomo from the Philippines

Photos = Korea.net DB

From Jan. 24-27, all of Korea will celebrate one of the country's two biggest holidays: Seollal (Lunar New Year), with Lunar New Year's Day falling on Jan. 25 this year.

I've long been curious over how foreign wives of Koreans adjust to the way their Korean husbands' families celebrate this holiday. I always hear about how tiring it is for a myeonuri (daughter-in-law) because of all the cooking and dishwashing required. So I asked a few of my friends who are married to Koreans to see just how tiring the holiday is for them.

When Abby Sung first arrived here in Korea, she was unfamiliar with how the people celebrated Seollal and had a lot of adjusting and learning to do. Having celebrated the holiday for four years, she said she is now accustomed to the tradition and the work that goes with it.

Samantha Brown's first Seollal with her husband's family was warm and welcoming. "When I met my Korean family, they gave me a warm welcome and let me enjoy the food they prepared and cooked, including me in fun games they played like card and board games," she said. "Though the language barrier remains, they never make me feel left out. Every time I offer to help, they refuse."

Razel Kim is celebrating her 20th Seollal in Korea this year. Her husband is the eldest son in his family, but she said she doesn't feel burdened by the celebration. Her husband's siblings and their families gather at their house, but also leave early to visit the families of their husbands, so by the middle of the day, Kim's house is quiet. She said she has little to do since no other relatives visit them. Her mother-in-law left her hometown of Suncheon, Jeollanam-do Province, so Kim's immediate family is left to celebrate Seollal.

Marie Boes Shin and her husband celebrate the holiday in Daegu, where her husband's grandfather lives. She also said she feels no burden in being a myeonuri, saying, "My family is usually very chill and prepares all the food before everyone arrives. We all help with the setting of the table and cleaning. But nobody really works hard, not even the other women."

For Hallie Bradley, the holiday is a restful time for her family. She said she enjoys taking part in the family tradition, participating in jesa (an ancestral memorial ceremony) and wearing her Hanbok. "My mother-in-law prepares all the food and I help set the table with my father-in-law. Then we all eat together. After eating, my husband and I do the dishes and then everyone takes a nap," she said.

It's good to know that Seollal is not as demanding and exhausting as the stories I've heard, which include those of some myeonuri even dreading the coming of the holiday. If there is one thing Koreans and foreigners alike dread, however, it's the traffic that goes with the celebration. Families flock to their hometowns for family gatherings, so all vehicles lead out of Seoul.

This is the case for Brown and her husband, both of whom go to Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do Province, where her mother-in-law traces her roots. Shin goes to Daegu for Seollal, but when her work as a ski instructor conflicts with the schedule, she doesn't have to go. Bradley's family celebrates the holiday in Busan.

How do they typically spend the holidays? Brown said, "All family members contribute to expenses. We play games, sing Korean songs, give cash gifts to each other, and the little children bow to their elders and receive cash gifts. To cap off Lunar New Year, we dine at a restaurant all together as a family. We all go back to the family house to pack our bags and take home loads of gifts, food and beautiful memories."

So all is apparently well for these myeonuri. They felt welcomed and have settled well. Contrary to what I expected because of the stories I heard, their Seollal is a family tradition they enjoy and serves as an occasion to create memories together.

chaey0726@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.