I should preface this blog post by mentioning that not all Koreans celebrate Christmas.\u00a0 Some Koreans happen to be Buddhists and so Christmas isn’t really a holiday that they can identify with.\u00a0 Some Koreans are Christians, but they tend to observe Christmas in a low key fashion.\u00a0 For example, on Christmas Eve some Christian Koreans may start a prayer marathon that lasts until midnight.\u00a0 Some exchange presents and decorate their house with a tree and some don’t, it really depends upon the person.\u00a0 In regards to gift giving, that also depends upon the person.\u00a0 Sometimes Koreans may give money as a present, instead of an actual gift.\u00a0 If you feel uncomfortable about giving money, you can also give a gift certificate as well.\u00a0 To be honest, sometimes I prefer getting money as a present, because I haven’t always liked the gifts I’ve gotten.\u00a0 I guess it’s the thought that counts…<\/p>\n
Well if you don’t want to give money you can always make gifts that come from the heart that everyone will enjoy.\u00a0 Hankwa (\ud55c\uacfc<\/strong>) is a general term for Korean sweets.\u00a0 Here are some dessert ideas that will please your Korean friends:<\/p>\n 1) Yakgwa (\uc57d\uacfc<\/strong>) is made by kneading some wheat flour and frying it in honey and seasame oil.\u00a0 Sometimes instead of wheat flour rice flour is used.\u00a0 Also, in place of honey, rice wine can also be used as well.\u00a0 Yakgwa (\uc57d\uacfc<\/strong>) is brown in color and is made in the mold of a flower.\u00a0 These cookie like sweets can get stale very quickly, so make sure they’re refrigerated properly.\u00a0 As for taste, I would say they taste close to what I feel ginger snap cookies taste like.<\/p>\n 2) Sukshilkwa (\uc219\uc2e4\uacfc<\/strong>) is made by boiling some fruits, ginger, and pine nuts in water mixed with honey.\u00a0\u00a0You can add chestnuts as well. \u00a0Sukshilkwa (\uc219\uc2e4\uacfc<\/strong>) come in a variety of colors.\u00a0 Some are tannish, some are blackish, some are white, etc.\u00a0 As for taste, it really depends on the ingreedients.\u00a0 If you add in lots of sugar and honey, it has a tendency to be sweeter.<\/p>\n 3) Jungkwa (\uc815\uacfc<\/strong>) is made by boiling either fruits or plant roots in honey and some mulyot (\ubb3c\uc5ff<\/strong>) or Korean liquid candy.\u00a0 It’s soft like jello.\u00a0 You can pretty much put anything in jungkwa (\uc815\uacfc<\/strong>) including carrots, ginseng, melons, sweet potatoes, etc.\u00a0 Food coloring is optional.\u00a0 It tastes like American jello, but less sweeter.<\/p>\n By the way, you don’t have to make these by hand.\u00a0 You can find these goodies at your local Korean grocery store.\u00a0 It’s a good time to start trying something new.\u00a0 Who knows, you might actually grow to like Korean sweets!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I should preface this blog post by mentioning that not all Koreans celebrate Christmas.\u00a0 Some Koreans happen to be Buddhists and so Christmas isn’t really a holiday that they can identify with.\u00a0 Some Koreans are Christians, but they tend to observe Christmas in a low key fashion.\u00a0 For example, on Christmas Eve some Christian Koreans…<\/p>\n