In Korea, the first snowfall of winter carries a special, almost romantic meaning. Many Koreans believe that if you make a wish or spend time with someone special during the first snow, that moment becomes deeply meaningful and memorable. This sentimental view of the first snow connects unexpectedly with a unique Korean tradition from late summer: dyeing fingernails with balsam flowers, known as bongsoongah.
During summer and early fall, people, especially children, pick orange and pink balsam petals, crush them, and wrap them around their fingernails overnight to create a natural dye. According to an old Korean folk belief, if the color from the balsam dye lasts until the first snowfall, your wish will come true. Because the dye fades gradually over time, keeping it until winter felt almost magical and became a fun challenge for children.
Although modern Korean children rarely follow this tradition today, many adults still remember it fondly as a cherished part of their childhood. Even now, when Koreans talk about the first snow, some still recall the balsam-stained nails and the small hopes they carried into winter.
This connection shows how Korea blends nature, the changing seasons, and personal wishes into everyday life, turning something as simple as flower-dyed nails into a beloved cultural memory.
Post a Comment