Ogokbap (Five-Grain Rice)

Although rice is the staple food for Koreans, they also use other grains. They often combine four other grains with glutinous and regular rice (most commonly glutinous sorghum, glutinous millet, dried black beans, and dried sweet beans). Each are cleaned and soaked separately then cooked until the grains have expanded and are well done. The various grains used differ between areas. Koreans tended to use those grains that they planned to plant in the coming year. In the past, Ogokpap was also a substitute of Yakshik for commoners who could not afford to have the ingredients like jujubes, chestnuts, and pine nuts for Yakshik on the first full moon day. Koreans also believe that Ogokpap must be shared by at least 3 different families to bring good luck in the coming year.

Taeborum (the first full moon) The first full moon falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month, signaling the beginning of the agricultural cycle. Koreans rise early, eat nuts (in the belief that hard foods strengthen the teeth), and drink a cup of cold wine called kwibalki sul ('ear-sharpening wine' is thought to clear the ears for good news). A special 'five-grain rice' is eaten on this day. Various combinations of millet, glutinous rice, beans and sorghum are eaten with greens prepared from dried vegetables collected the previous autumn. Farmers believe that this meal will ward off heat during the coming summer months.