Food for Daeboreum, the 1st Full Moon of the Year

Thursday is the first full moon of the lunar year, which is known as Daeboreum. Koreans eat ogokbap or five-grain rice with an assortment of seasoned vegetables over the festival.

In the past, when it was a luxury to have three meals a day, it was believed that going around the neighborhood and getting at least three helpings of the dish would bring good luck and health throughout the year. It was a custom to promote a giving spirit among neighbors by sharing food when the country was poor.

The food of Daeboreum focuses on using the opportunity to restore appetite and nutrition lost over the cold winter months. Eating hearty, nutritious fare was also important because it was the beginning of the farming season. / Feb. 17, 2011 11:47 KST