Chilseok

There are many myths and legends in Korea that have been passed down for years and years. Among one of those, is the love story of Gyun-Woo and Jing-Nyuh. The story goes as such. In the heavens long ago, the Emperor had a daughter named Jing-Nyuh. Jing-Nyuh was a beautiful kind hearted girl that was loved by all the angels in heaven. One day, Jing-Nyuh went out of the palace in heaven and met a young man, Gyun-Woo, who was a cow herder. They instantly fell in love. It was a pure love.

However, when the emperor found out, he was furious. He did not understand how a princess and a cow herder could fall in love. He demanded that they stop the non-sense at once, but the two had already fallen too much in love. The Emperor was so furious he banned Gyun-Woo to far away lands in the east and Jing-Nyuh to lands in the west of the galaxy.

Jing-Nyuh was so sad and distraught that she cried and cried until her tears turned into a huge rain storm.  As she cried and cried, the rivers on earth overflowed and flooded the lands on the earth. People were hurt and lost their homes.

As the birds in the sky watched people lose their homes, they became very worried. They decided to gather the magpies and crows and build a bridge for Gyun-Woo and Jing-Nyuh to meet. They birds built a bridge called Ojakkyo and once a year on the 7^th day of the 7^th lunar month Gyun-Woo and Jing-Nyuh were able to see each other.

When it rains on the following day, people believed it was the tears of Gyun-Woo and Jik-Nyo.

Gyun-woo and Jing-nyuh are crying as they meet and separate. Their tears become rain and always rain on the next day of July 7^th. This day, which is called Chilseok, has long become a day celebrated by Korean people. In actuality, this is the day the summer heat starts to dwindle and the rain starts. This rain is called Chilseok water.

On Chilseok, Korean people take baths believing that is good luck to bathe in the tears from the heavens. They also celebrate by eating wheat noodles and wheat cakes.

What did you do this Chilseok?