It forms a great festival for the farmers, and is much like a New England Thanksgiving Day. Gentlemen go to the country to see the festival, have food and wine, and generally get hilarious.
The ninth day of the ninth month is observed because the maple trees turn red and yellow flowers are in bloom. Poetry is written about the day and its beauties.
The tenth day of the tenth month is observed by every one making cake in the evening. Each one makes a number of cakes and presents them to all his friends. Friendship is supposed to be bound and strengthened by these gifts. Gentlemen engage in this pastime, and it is also a great day for the farmers.
On the eleventh month, at the winter solstice, a drink is made of red beans, and on this day sacrifice to ancestors is made.
On the twelfth day of the twelfth month people go hunting. Young men also call on the old men, who offer food and give good advice, and will say, "One year older, one year more." On this day the young man can sit down in the old man's presence and will listen respectfully to his advice.
Besides these stated festival days parties are often given, and if ten are invited, for example, provision must be made for three hundred, as each invited guest is accompanied by many servants, high and low. A large table is provided for each guest, and this is heaped with food and fruit, of which little is eaten, as most of it is given to the low servants, special tables being provided for the high servants. An ordinary party of this kind may often cost a thousand dollars.
A certain kind of picnic is called a "one-dish party." This is for men only, and each man brings to such a picnic a dish of some one kind of food sufficient in quantity for all.
Games.—The Koreans have dice, and cards of two kinds, with which several games are played, one being a gambling game, which is forbidden by law. They have chess, and "go," a peculiar game with four sticks, and also many puzzles. Children play ball by patting and bouncing it on the ground, have whipping tops, and fly kites. A portion of the kite string has broken glass stuck to it, and by this device they are enabled to cut the strings of other kites. (In Japan a device holding a sharp cutting edge is employed for the same purpose.) Children also play jackstones, using seven balls and having many ways of picking them up; these ways have their special names, such as "Hatch the chicken," "Laying eggs," "Making the kitchen," "Sawing wood," "Winnowing wheat," "Collecting eggs," "Striking ground," "Wearing the hat," etc. "Pease porridge hot" and "Cat's cradle" are also common; this last is called "Thread dipping."
Superstitions.—It is believed that if a cat approaches a dead person the body will stand upright. In such a case it must be
