The Ham

No, we did not just eat some ham. We were lucky enough to be invited to our friend Will's & Yunjong's pre-wedding Ham ceremoney, at Yungjong's family home.... 

The 'Ham' is a traditional Korean ceremony a few days before a wedding, where the bridegroom offers the bride's family a box of gifts (the 'Ham'), including the traditonal dress and jewellery for the wedding. In return, the bride's family give wine, food (and, back in ye old days, money)...and after much bowing and inspection of the gifts, they all have a feast and drinking session in celebration! Somewhere during this ceremony the groom is supposed to wear a dried squid on his head while bowing lowly before the bride's parents, while the family and friends jokingly shout insults to him. I dont know why, but Will seemed reluctant to play out this part, so despite my camera being at the ready, I saw no dried squid wearing. Come on Will, its tradition....

After the bride's mother inspects the gifts, the bride dresses in the traditional Hanbok dress, and both the bride and groom bow low before the parents in respect.

 

So the merriment! Korean cuisine is, in my opinion, the best that I have come across yet, beating India, Thailand, Europe, China....everywhere I have travelled so far. So a homecooked Korean feast is a luxery - from spicy soups to meaty bulgogi dishes, sushimi and kimchee, all fruits and vegetables, all laid out beautifully on the low rise tables where we sit around crossed legged on the floor tucking in with our chopsticks, and knocking it back with shots of soju. Be warned...do not leave your chopsticks sticking out of your rice bowl....I was politely told this is very rude as it resembles  funeral rite. Ooops. Not the right theme for a wedding. Thankfully I didn't do any other customery faux-pas (I don't think...) before we all gave our thankyous, bowed another few times, and left the grand apartment of Yungjong's parents.

So, Korean culture.... there you are! It can sometimes feel as though the Korean culture is being forgotten, or drowned out by the strong western (American) influences. It was refreshing to see some real traditional culture still alive and kicking in the country! And was a thoroughly enjoyable evening.