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Post by Soju on Sept 8, 2004 17:30:11 GMT -5
I think the wedding chest thing is a fun custom. But, could some one tell me why a squid mask, rather than, uh, anything else?
And, is this custom done in high-rises, too?
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Post by jenny on Sept 9, 2004 16:35:51 GMT -5
And, is this custom done in high-rises, too? I'd think it'd be a lot harder to recruit your buddies for that! I didn't notice that mask was a squid! Hmmm, maybe since a squid has a suction-cup grip, it's harder to get the chest away from him?
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Post by TheBo on Sept 10, 2004 9:32:28 GMT -5
....I didn't notice that mask was a squid! Hmmm, maybe since a squid has a suction-cup grip, it's harder to get the chest away from him? Good theory, Jen. By the way, when the Archfiend came to join in the fun, he called the squid-mask-guy "squid" and that's when I first noticed it was a squid mask. Maybe it was just to show how wierd Jin-kook's friends are. Bo
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Post by noonting on Dec 10, 2007 22:12:06 GMT -5
Why a squid mask?
For no special reason other than to hide the identity of the messenger and to increase the fun.
(I saw this from somewhere on Naver.com.)
HamJinABi is the guy who carries the chest from the groom’s house to the bride’s prior to the actual wedding day as part of the wedding custom in Korea.
The ham (chest) is usually black in color and contains silks and matrimonial papers. The silks inside are for the bride’s costume and comes in 2 colors ?red and blue. Also in the chest are a matrimonial epistle sent to the bride's family from the bridegroom's containing the groom’s name and birth date and a note saying that the messenger is sent to the bride's house with the blue and red silks in order to show gratitude. (There can be more things included in the chest, depending on what the groom’s side can afford and is willing to send). HamJinABi used to be an older man from the groom’s side but these days he is a close friend of the groom. HamJinABi carries the chest on his back with 2-3 people accompanying and carrying the light for him. HamJinABi's purpose is to get "good treatment" (pay for his services) from the bride's family, eat good food, and make people laugh.
The bride’s side prepares steamed rice cakes with a rice-cake steamer and, once the chest arrives, HamJinABi is supposed to put the chest down on the steamer. Then a person on the bride's side (supposed to be a lucky person) opens the chest and shows what's inside. Usually, at first, HamJinABi does not relinquish the chest and may even refuse to go into the house. The bride's family waits outside of the house and greets him, but before he goes inside, HamJinABi runs around and shouts "HamSaRye (buy this wedding chest)" loud enough for all the village people to hear. At this time, people gather to see this sight and have fun. Meanwhile, a deal starts between HamJinABi and the bride's family, who tries to convince him to enter the house. Eventually, when the Ham people are somewhat pleased with the offer, they enter the house, relinquish the chest, and is treated with delicious prepared foods and drinks.
These days, HamJinABi usually wears a squid mask to draw attention. However, in the past, the face was colored with charcoal or covered with just about anything. This was done to increase the humor and fun by hiding HamJinAbi's identity. HamJinABis strange face, the humor and the comedy, the argument of payment with the bride's side, and the village people’s good-humored battling/taking sides were the focus of this part of the wedding custom.
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