단팥죽 /（红豆羹/粥）/Red Bean Puree " Patjook"

 단팥죽 /（红豆羹/粥）/Red Bean Puree " Patjook"

With my best  wishes for "Happy Winter Solstice" to all of my friends ~~
恭祝大家 “冬至愉快” ~~

Red Bean Puree with glutinous rice balls is served on the winter solstice, we call it "Patjook" in Korean.

今年的 12月21日是冬至（동지 )，韩国人也在这一天庆祝这节日。华族在这一天搓汤圆，韩国人则在这一天煮红豆羹/粥庆祝冬至。。。。

The Winter Solstice Festival or The Extreme of Winter (Chinese and Japanese: 冬至; Korean: 동지; Vietnamese:Đông chí) (Pinyin: Dōng zhì), (Rōmaji: Tōji), (Romaja:Dongji) is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Chinese and other East Asians during the dongzhi solar term on or around December 22 when sunshine is weakest and daylight shortest; i.e., on the first day of the dongzhi solar term.

The origins of this festival can be traced back to the yin and yang philosophy of balance and harmony in the cosmos. After this celebration, there will be days with longer daylight hours and therefore an increase in positive energy flowing in. The philosophical significance of this is symbolized by the I Ching hexagram fù (復, "Returning").

Traditionally, the Dongzhi Festival is also a time for the family to get together. One activity that occurs during these get togethers (especially in the southern parts of China and in Chinese communities overseas) is the making and eating of Tangyuan (湯圓, as pronounced in Mandarin Pinyin: Tāng Yuán) or balls of glutinous rice, which symbolize reunion.

In Korea, similar balls of glutinous rice (Korean: 새알심) (English pronunciation:Saealsim), is prepared in a traditional porridge made with sweet red bean (Korean: 팥죽) (English pronunciation:Patjook). Patjook was believed to have a special power and sprayed around houses on winter solstice to repel sinister spirits. This practice was based on a traditional folk tale, in which the ghost of a man that used to hate patjook comes haunting innocent villagers on the winter solstice.
(source : Wikipedia )
Recipe is available at http://kkimchi88.blogspot.kr/…/red-bean-puree-patjook_8653.…