Happy Black Day! (블랙데이)

Black Day has to be the coolest holiday ever.  As most Asians celebrate White Day on March 14 (which is the opposite of Valentine’s Day on February 14, where men give women chocolates), South Koreans also celebrate Black Day on April 14. It’s called Black Day in South Korea because it is the one day where single people “mourn” their single life.

Known as the holiday for “lonely people” or more encouragingly as a “celebration of singlehood", singles dress in dark clothes and eat noodles covered with black bean paste (Jjajangmyeon 자장면) to celebrate their “lack of a love life”. Single people who wish to celebrate (or commiserate) Black Day drink black coffee and consume other black colored foods.

Jjajangmyeon was first created in the city of Incheon, where early Chinese migrants to Korea began to settle in the late 19th century. The dish was first developed in a Chinese restaurant called Gonghwachun in Incheon around 1905. The city of Incheon sponsored the “100 year anniversary of the birth of jjajangmyeon” in 2005. With about 100 years of history, jjajangmyeon is called one of the “national foods” of South Korea. It is a popular dish among family members because of its cheap price and taste.

There are matchmaking agencies who arrange dates on this day and even a Korean pop band called “MBLAQ Day”.  Supposedly all the band members are single and celebrate this with their fans through their music.

Although it sounds like a depressing day, it’s actually a big social gathering with lots of drinking and making merry.  There is also a lot of speed dating events set up. And I am sure quite a few single people “hookup” on April 14!

Hanamatsuri, the Japanese commemoration of the birth of Buddha

The birthday of the Buddha is celebrated on a different day in each Asian country. For example, in Korea and Southeast Asia, his birthday is celebrated in May and in Tibet, it is celebrated either in May or June.

However, every April 8 in Japan, Hanamatsuri (literally “festival of flowers” 花祭り) is celebrated. This day commemorates the birth of Siddhartha Gautama in the Mayahana sect of Buddhism.  Fresh offerings of flowers are brought to Buddhist temples.

According to Japanese tradition, the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni, was born in Nepal on April 8, 566 B.C. He was born the son of King Suddohana and Queen Maya. The descriptions of the scene at his birth include celestial birds singing, beautiful flowers, and a sweet gentle rain bathing the baby Buddha. On this day, the greatest of all sentient beings was born, who later became the Enlightened One, the Buddha.

The washing of the baby Buddha is an important part of this day.  According to legend, when the Buddha was born he stood straight, took seven steps, and declared "I alone am the World-Honored One." He then pointed up with one hand and down with the other, to indicate he would unite both heaven and earth. These seven steps represent seven directions -- north, south, east, west, up, down, and here. Mahayana Buddhists interpret "I alone am the World-Honored One" in a way that "I" represents all sentient beings throughout space and time -- everyone, in other words.

The ritual of "washing the baby Buddha" commemorates this moment. This is the single most common ritual, seen throughout Asia and in many different schools. A small standing figure of the baby Buddha, with the right hand pointing up and the left hand pointing down, is placed on an elevated stand within a basin on an altar. People approach the altar reverently, fill a ladle with water or tea, and pour it over the figure to "wash" the baby. Japanese people pour ama-cha (a “sweet tea”  beverage prepared from hydrangea flowers) on small Buddha statues decorated with flowers, as if bathing a newborn baby.

During Hanamatsuri, the Japanese reflect on the gratitude the teachings of Buddha and feel  joy that the enlightenment of the Buddha is with them at all times.

Qingming Festival (清明节)

This year, China’s Qingming festival (the most common English translations of Qingming are “Clear Bright Festival” and “Tomb Sweeping Day”) will be celebrated on April 4. Its name implies that it is time for people to go outside and enjoy the greenness of spring and to tend to the graves of departed ones.

Qingming has regularly been observed as a public holiday in Taiwan and in Hong Kong and Macau. Its observance was reinstated as a nationwide public holiday in mainland China in 2008. Although it has no holiday status there, it is also celebrated in Singapore and Malaysia.

Qingming is celebrated by honoring the ancestors (tomb sweeping) and by enjoying the return of spring (spring outing).

Tomb sweeping is regarded as the most important aspect of Qingming. During this time, the tombs of ancestors are visited. Visitors to the tombs pray, sweep and offer favorite food and drink to ancient ancestors. Some people carry willow branches or place them on gates or doors as it said to ward off the evil spirits that wander during Qingming.

The Spring Outing is celebrated by being outside, appreciating nature, looking at the blooming flowers and flying kites. After being flown for a while, the kites are set free as a sign of good luck and good fortune.

The origins of this festival are interesting. The Qingming Festival was originally held to commemorate a loyal man living in the Spring and Autumn Period (770 - 476 BC), named Jie Zitui. It has been said that Jie cut a piece of meat from his own leg in order to save his hungry leader who was forced to go into exile when the crown was in jeopardy. 

When the leader came back to his position nineteen years later, he had forgotten all about Jie Zitui. He soon remembered and wanted to reward him. However, Jie had blocked himself up in a mountain with his mother. In order to find Jie, the master ordered that the mountain be set on fire. Jie was soon found dead along with his mother. In order to commemorate Jie, the master ordered that the day Jie died was Hanshi (Cold Food) Festival (the day before Qingming) - the day that only cold food could be eaten.

The second year, when the master went to the mountain to sacrifice to Jie, he found willows were growing so he gave instructions that they day after Hanshi was to be called Qingming , so he gave instructions that the day after Hanshi Festival was to be Qingming Festival. 

Later, the two festivals were combined as one - Qingming Festival.