Every month we try to showcase an activity that is happening around the world. This month we celebrate the Korean Traditional Drink and Rice Cake Festival in Gyeongju. If you’d like to learn more about this, don’t miss your class on April 17~23.
The Korean Traditional Drink & Rice Cake Festival in Gyeongju (City in Eastern S. Korea) resembles a village feast that lasts for six days. Events include traditional music and dance performances, as well as opportunities to learn traditional Korean arts and crafts. However, the festival is focused on two ingredients of the culinary tradition: alcoholic drinks and Ddeok (Korean rice cake).
キョンジュ（韓国東部の都市）の韓国伝統の飲み物とお餅の祭りは、６日間行われる村の祝宴によく似ている。伝統音楽と舞踏を含む行事は、韓国伝統の美術・工芸と同じように、それらを学ぶとてもよい機会だ。しかし、祭りは伝統料理の２つの素材に焦点を合わせている。酒とDdeok（韓国の餅）である。
Rice dough is being pounded here and there, and rice cakes are being made in all sorts of shapes and flavors. Many people stand in long lines to taste these rice cakes. At the main stage set up at the center of the venue, visitors are invited to pound rice dough with a huge mallet and make rice cakes themselves.
あちこちで餅つきが行われ、あらゆる形と香りのものが作られる。多くの人々がそれらの餅を味わうために行列に並ぶ。中央通りに設けられた主要舞台では、お客さんが迎え入れられて、大きな杵でもち米を搗いて自分たちの餅を作る。
In addition to the audience participation booths, there are food booths set up by famous rice cake shops from all over the country. This attraction is especially appealing because visitors can sample the many kinds of rice cakes before purchasing by choosing the ones they like. Visitors can sample and shop for a selection of mouth-watering delicacies not only from Gyeongju but also from a variety of other regions in Korea.
観衆が参加する区画について言うと、国中の有名餅屋による屋台が設けられている。この呼び物は特に魅力があり、なぜならお客さんは好きなものを選んで購入する前に、たくさんの種類の餅を試食できるからである。お客さんは試食することができ、キョンジュだけでなく韓国のさまざまな地域からのおいしそうなごちそうの中から選んで買うことができる。
There are other events in which visitors can participate including slicing roll-shaped rice cakes while being blindfolded, making pan-fried rice cakes adorned with azaleas, making songpyeon (a crescent-shaped rice cake with different kinds of fillings), and printing patterns on rice cakes. Also, there is Gayangju or home-made liquor making, which can be performed together with family or by couples.
お客さんが参加できるイベントは他にもある。目隠ししながら巻き餅を切ったり、餅を焼いてツツジで飾ったり、ソンピョン（三日月型の餅で具はさまざま）を作ったり、餅の上に図柄を付けたりする。また、Gayangjuや手作りの酒もあり、夫婦や家族みんなで行うことができる。
Sources:
http://www.kims-korea.net/Entertainment1.htm?offset=1&o_no=19&o_hit=79&table=Event
http://eguide.gyeongju.go.kr/02_culture/festival.jsp
http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?cid=261560
http://english.triptokorea.com/english/viewtopic.php?t=1162&sid=350f835a76c2a640d8be04c41e62943d
