Saturday, December 25, 2010

Christmas in Korea

Did you know?

South Korea recognizes Christmas as a public holiday. Non-Christian Koreans otherwise go about their daily routine on December 25 but may engage in holiday customs such as gift-giving, sending Christmas cards, and setting up decorated trees in their homes.

Children, especially, appear to have embraced Santa Claus, whom they call Santa Haraboji (Grandfather Santa) in Korean.

Local radio stations play holiday music on Christmas Day and a few days before, while television stations are known to air Christmas films and cartoon specials popular in the Western countries.

As in the West, Christian churches in Korea hold Christmas pageants and conduct special services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

South Korea is the only East Asian country to recognize Christmas as a public holiday.

1 comments:

Brooke said...

interesting! thanks for the info.