Games and Recreation:

In the past, games were enjoyed mostly in the winter, because of the need to work in the fields all summer.

Jumping-seesaw was a game played by two girls. One person stands at each end of a wooden board about two meters long and forty to fifty centimeters long. The board is balanced on a pillow made of rice. They then jump up and down in turn.

Kite Flying was used during the winter, and it became a tradition to fly a kite on January 5. Koreans would write the names of evil things and diseases, to ensure good health and fortune. The Korean kite is made of a bamboo skeleton and paper.

Yut, a form of backgammon originated in the ninth century. It is a game for two to four players, and is played mostly during the New Years holidays. Yut is made from a branch, with a diameter of about two and a half to three centimeters and twenty centimeters long, of a hardwood tree. The branch is then vertically cut into two pieces.

Food and Table Manners:

The main Korean food is rice. The most common side-dishes are: soup, meat, fish, and vegetables. The meat is mostly beef and pork but occasionally there is chicken or pheasant. There are always radishes and Chinese cabbage (kimchi).

The table is usually around one foot by two feet and ten inches off the ground. There is no special dining room. There are many different types of tables, each for different occasions. Some of these tables include a noodle table, a wine table, long table, large table. The elder must pick up his/her silverware before anyone else is allowed to . You never put silverware in a bowl when you're not using it. The left hand must remain under the table except when your tilting the dish towards yourself. Conversation is discouraged and children who speak at the dinner table are often chastised. You are not allowed to tip at an ordinary restaurant, but it is considered proper at ones aimed towards tourists.