The Korean ancestors created the seasonal subdivisions that are obtained by dividing the orbit of the earth around the sun by 24.
Among them is Chongmyong which falls on April 5 this year.
Chongmyong means that the sky gets clear gradually and spring weather begins.
It is the period when farming for the year starts in real earnest.
In the past, farmers soaked rice seeds in water and sprayed them on rice seedbeds around Chongmyong . In the northern mountainous areas they planted late potatoes in this period.
As the sayings go, “wheat is planted around Chongmyong , and autumn crops are planted around Kogu ,” “rice seedbeds are made, barley fields weeded and seeds of radish, cabbage and pepper sprayed around Chongmyong and Kogu .” The Koreans regarded these periods as good for sowing.
When Chongmyong came round, they removed the traces of winter, sprayed seeds of flowering plants on their gardens and planted fruit trees around their houses.
The Korean women enjoyed the swinging, a folk game played from ancient times, mainly from Chongmyong to May when warm spring weather is strongly felt.
Besides, the Korean people, together with their families and relatives, visited the graves of their ancestors on Chongmyong , as they did on Chusok . On Chongmyong they repaired parts of the graves damaged in winter and cleaned the graves and their surroundings.
Then they held a simple memorial service for the dead and recollected their ancestors or had a talk enjoying dishes they had prepared.
There was also a custom of sharing sparks.
This custom was originated in olden times when matches were not invented yet and so fire was regarded as something very precious.
Chongmyong reflects the manners of the Korean people who are diligent, civilized and morally sound. They still greet the day as a folk holiday.
Kim Song Chol
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