Gyeongchip(경칩) "Winter ends and Spring is coming."

Gyeongchip(경칩) "Winter ends and Spring is coming."

 

 

 

 

https://www.utoimage.com/?m=goods.photo_view&idx=21937370

 

 

 

 

Have you ever heard of Gyeongchip(경칩) in Korea?

Although the day is not well-known as it used to be, there is some interesting traditions about this day.

 

Gyeongchip(驚蟄) means 'insects (蟄) sleeping in winter’ ‘wake up in surprise(蟄)'

Its actual meaning is the frogs wake from their hibernation and spring beings to appear across the Korean Peninsula.

 

Frogs are very sensitive animal to temperature changes, so the time they wake up from hibernation means the winter ends and the spring starts.

Among 24 solar terms of the year, Gyeongchip marks the beginning of the third solar term, which is March 5th or 6th.

 

 

 

https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/kawaii-frogs-singing-water-lilies_9925812.htm#query=frog&position=3&from_view=search&track=sph

 

Why was Gyeongchip celebrated?

Gyeongchip was celebrated because once Korea was an agricultural society.

It was important to know when does spring starts for agrarian ancestors because it was the time when they must prepare for farming.

 

Moreover, according to folklore, they even predict the goods and bads of the year with the sound of frogs crying during Gyeongchip.

 

What did people do for Gyeongchip?

On Gyeongchip, ancestors used to scoop up and eat frog or salamander eggs because they thought that the first animals to wake for the spring gave a certain liveliness to the universe.

 

Another Gyeongchip tradition that does continue today is drinking sap of the mono maple tree.

At this time of year, extraction of mono maple sap in the southern and central regions of the country begins.

It is believed that drinking this sap would cure stomach disorders or any internal disease.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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