Special Korean Storytime with Ms Ann

Join us for a very special Korean storytime, Hahoetal, Ddakji, Jegi-chagi, and Yakgwa in celebration of Korean Cultural Day!

Hahoetal are traditional Korean masks worn in the Hahoe byeolsingut talnori ceremonies that date back to the 12th century.  They represent the stock characters needed to perform the roles in the ritual dance dramas included in the ceremony. The masks originated in the Hahoe Folk Village and Byeongsan Village, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea.

Ddakji is a popular Korean game played using folded paper tiles.  Place one tile on the floor (face down is easiest) and hold one tile on your hand. Throw down the tile in your hand and try to hit the tile on the floor so that it flips over.  The player who successfully flips over the tile on the floor is the winner.  

Jegi-chagi is a traditional outdoor game in which the players kick the Jegi into the air and attempt to keep it aloft.  It is commonly played during the winter seasons, especially during Korean New Year. 

Yakgwa is a type of yumil-gwa, which is deep-fried, wheat-based Korean confection made with honey, rice wine, sesame oil, and ginger juice.  Traditionally, the sweet was offered in an ancestral rite ceremony and enjoyed on festive days such as chuseok (harvest festival), marriages, or hwangap (sixtieth-birthday) celebrations.

In modern South Korea, it is also served as a dessert and can be bought at traditional markets or supermarkets.