Time flies, and I think everyone will agree with me. It seems just yesterday I was thinking how to celebrate New Year 2019, but it is already December 2019, and it is time to think about how to celebrate New Year 2020.
But before it, let's talk about some festivals and events which has been in Seoul this year.
As in last year, this year was a Kimchi festival in Seoul. I couldn't go there by myself this year, but I read news, talked to my friends, who have been there. And today I will share with my personal experience, when I visited Kimchi Festival in 2018.
It was almost the same as last year. Different booths of different companies, who is somehow related to kimchi. Some booths were distributing some stuff to make a kimchi for free. I got some gloves, pockets, salt...haha
Btw, you know what is kimchi, right? Kimchi is traditional Korean salad. But it is not a fresh salad, it is fermented with special species one. Traditionally, kimchi is made of cabbage, but actually, there are more than 100 sorts of kimchi. Kimchi can be made of all types of vegetables.
Festival took a place on Seoul Plaza Square, which is located in front of Seoul City Hall.
There was a Kimchi museum, where visitors could see different types of kimchi, and what kind of kimchi is common in different regions of Korea.
The museum itself wasn't so huge, but an amount of exhibition was kinda a high.
Actually, there was not only South Korean types of kimchi, but also North Korean some too.
Some sorts of kimchi can be made of seafood, and only of vegetables.
As I already told you, there are more than 100 sorts of Kimchi in Korean kitchen. And if you consider that every household add species or vegetables as they want or like, so the variety of kimchi is constantly developing.
Before visititing this Festival, I couldn't imagine some sorts of kimchi, or kimchi which of some vegetables. Especially, seafood kimchi. And kimchi is a salad or side dish, but some sorts of kimch even looked as a main dish.
Close to the festival there were booths of Kimchi retailers. And I walked along the street of booths and tasted different kimchis :)
Besides dishes with kimchi, there was also a stand 'Kimchi meets Schience', which describes the scientific effect of kimchi, and how does it affect our health and body.
In the festival you can also participate in special classes about kimchi and how to make it.
And of course, everyone who wanted made a kimchi by themself. The course took a place in the construction of pepper shape. In one side of 'pepper' Korean citizens were making kimchi, on opposite side, foreigners.
All ingredients, container for kimchi etc were provided by organizators.
A kimchi culture is really important in Korea. Every year in November people make a kimchi at home, and then eat during a year. So, can you imagine how many kimchi do they make? It is also important to find a place where to keep a kimchi. Therefore, there is a special kimchi refrigerators in Korea
For the young visitors of festival organizators prepapared a fun corner.
Have you ever tried to make a Kimchi?
If you visit Seoul in November, check the schedule, maybe there is a Kimchi festival. The entrance to the festival is FREE of charge!
If you have any questions about Korea don't hesitate to contact me here or via instagram
More articles about my travel adventures you can find here