Happy Lunar New Year!

This weekend is Seolnal, Lunar New Year.It is one of the country's biggest holidays.People leave the cities to visit with families,(often stuck in traffic for 8 hours for a trip that usually takes 2 hours) pay respects to those who have passed on and feast on wonderful food.The most important food to eat is Tokkgook,a rice noodle soup-quite delicious.You also turn a year older.This is a long one to explain-later.
With Seolnal, comes gifts,just like Christmas.However, the gifts given here are of a practical nature.One look at the stores in the weeks prior to today, you could see pre-packaged gifts.Ordinary things like, 9 cans of tuna or a box set of three coffee jars or a set of cooking oil.The hot favorite is what I'd call the "wash up!" gift.It contains a bottle of shampoo,conditioner,4 bars of soap, hand lotion, body lotion and the 2 or 4 bamboo flavored toothpaste tubes in a large box.The best one is the Dove set.This year I received one very expensive gift from a student.It's the snack/rice cake box.See for yourself.
Long life and happiness to all in the year of the Dog.