Seh-Beh 2009

Happy New Year!

Seh-beh is part of a traditional Korean New Year's celebration. We celebrated with Tanna's parents on Jan. 2 this year because Tanna's Mom had to work on New Year's Day. Seh-Beh itself is a bowing ceremony during which the younger people bow to the older people (generationally speaking, of course) to show respect. Those bowing say "Sah-hae bohk mah-nee bah-duh-sae-yo," which is a wish for prosperity. And then the older people give the younger people money ... typically in the white envelope that is commonly seen at Korean weddings and such. (In case you didn't know, Koreans love to give crisp money in white envelopes as gifts.)

This was Kate's second Seh-beh. She wore the hanbok that Halabji and Halmoni brought back from Korea for her first birthday. I'm a little sad that this is probably the last time she will wear it before it is too small--but she already has one that she can wear next year (see the photo below). I wore the hanbok I wore to our engagement party, and Tanna's Mom wore the hanbok she wore to our wedding.


Kate tried on this hanbok the night before. It is the hanbok Rebekah wore in our wedding (the other flower girls wore one just like it, too). It's still a little big, but should fit quite nicely next year.


Tanna thoroughly enjoyed eating some Korean food, including the traditional New Year's dish ... dduk-mandu kuk (rice-cake soup with dumplings).

Here are some more photos from Seh-Beh 2009:


Family Pic


Hanbok time!


Will bow for money. haha!


Here's Kate getting her $$ from Halabaji--she actually tried to hand it back to him.


Here I am trying to help Kate bow. Notice the practice golf ball by my hem. LOL! Kate loves playing with those!


Back in her regular clothes, Kate resumed another one of her favorite activities at Halmoni and Halabaji's house--climbing the stairs.


Oh, and here is another one--playing on the keyboard.

Here's to 2009--may it be a great year full of blessings for you all!