In every examination period, we, as students, have a lot of stress, but if people who appreciate us cheer us up and help us to keep a positive mind and to give the best to us, we can do great things. Imagine if they gave us a little present and how that could improve our mood. When I was studying in Korea, I discovered a special tradition in order to encourage students during their examination periods.
I was preparing to take the TOPIK exam. It was very important because it was what determined my level of Korean at that moment. During four weeks, we studied for long hours in order to get the best scores. Our teachers were fussy during the study hours, however days before the exam each teacher gave us a different kind of present. I particularly remember that one of my teachers gave us some sweet rice cake. I was a little surprised because after studying hard for many days, the attitude of our teachers changed to be more positive and they supported and encouraged our future results. Personally, I was really stressed and the fact they gave us candies before of an important exam kept me at ease.
We were given sweet rice cake before taking the TOPIK exam. Giving small presents to students before exams is an interesting part of studying in Korea.
One day before the exam, I asked to my Korean friend about the presents we had received. I asked her if it was a Korean tradition to give presents — especially candies — before an exam. She said that it was a way to cheer up and encourage us to get a good score and also to relieve some stress. Some weeks later, I kept searching about this. I was motivated because giving presents in that kind of situation isn’t common in my country. I found out that giving presents before an exam is a long and superstition tradition.
According to the superstitions, the following gifts can bring good luck to exam candidates. In the past, people would give yeot hard taffy (엿) or chapssaltteok rice cake (찹쌀떡). Both are sticky snacks. Consequently, if someone were to give some yeot or chapssaltteok to a student, it expresses their wish that the candidate pass the exam. Moreover, it’s believed that eating these sticky candies can help them “stick” the materials studied into their heads.
Nowadays, many people give gifts to their family members or friends who are going to take an exam. The gifts include a mirror, a watch, toilet paper and forks. This is right before important exams, such as the exam to get in to university. In the Korean mind, if you’re given a watch and a mirror, you’re saying to the other person that they should look carefully at the test. If you give a fork, it means that they should only choose the correct answers. Another common present is a roll of toilet paper. As the toilet paper unrolls smoothly, so, too, do we hope that the candidate will solve all the problems in the exam as easily and smoothly as the toilet paper unrolls.
The most important thing is that each present is given to express hope for another person’s success, and hope that they’ll get the best score. I think this kind of affection helps people to become more optimistic people. Now that I know this, I’ll continue with this tradition in my own country when I see a friend with a lot of stress before an exam.
By Fatima Muñoz
Korea.net Honorary Reporter
Correction: Isela Velasquez
Photo: Yu Jongwon
http://koreanetblog.blogspot.kr/2017/01/korean-gifts-to-cheer-you-up.html
