Lord of the Cars

The intricate structure and importance of social structure in Korea cannot be understated. It dominates the language and behavior of the people and, of course, it plays a strong role in work-life.

So last Wednesday when my principal caught me on my way out of school last week and told me to wait, I really didn't have a choice to leave anymore. But I preferred the refuge of the internet to whatever awaited me, so I went to the teachers lounge. However, when the school janitor/custodian/landscaper/cook (1 man, 4 jobs) implored me to join them, I realized that my dawdling was futile. So I bit my lip and set out to find what awaited me ...

I saw a crowd gathering and I sensed that something special was going on. A dried fish stretched from the car's hood to a mini (floor) table. On it were 2 small bowls of dried rice, a bottle of machali (Korean rice wine) and a large pig's head with it's snout facing forward toward the crowd.

Shortly after I arrived the ceremony began. My principal stood before the table and the car and bowed about a dozen times (Buddhist style) in front of the makeshift pighead/car alter. He proceeded to pour the rice wine into the bowls. I can only assume this was considered some sort of offering. When he completed his bows, he took out his wallet and stuffed a handful of 10,000 won ($10) bills into the MOUTH of the pig head.

Then my vice principal took out a sheet of paper and read some Chinese script (of which I understood nil). He then proceeded to light the paper on fire. He (while it was still aflame) threw the flaming paper into the air and hit it several times to keep it in the air a bit longer. Then he put several more bills into the pig's mouth.

Since the big shots (Prin and VP) had done their part, it was now time for the others (teachers, school officers, cooks, etc.) to come before the pig head alter and bow before it, before stuffing more money into it's mouth. However, by the sixth person, there was so much money, that people began placing money into the pig's snout nostrils. When everyone (except me!) had put their money in, we drank the rice wine (I participated in this aspect of the ceremony^^).

Then all that was left was to eat and drink ... I've never seen people take so much glee in consuming an animal before, but they chopped and ate that pig head with such gusto as I've never imagined. I tried a little, and it was ok, but most of the pieces were fatty and full of skin (the principal gets most of the good pieces).

By this time, I had consulted a number of teachers to try to find out the meaning of the ceremony: This was the "New Car" ceremony. Ah! Just like back home :).