석가탄신일 (Seokga Tansinil)

Seokga Tansinil, usually called Bucheonnim Osin Nal in everyday Korean, falls on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month and is a public holiday in South Korea. It celebrates the birth of the historical Buddha. In the weeks before the date, temples hang rows of colorful lotus lanterns, and city streets are often strung with lanterns for Yeondeunghoe, the lantern festival recognized by UNESCO. In Seoul, major events gather around Jogyesa Temple and the Jongno area, but local temples across the country also hold lantern displays, prayers, and community programs. Families, practicing Buddhists, and visitors all come to see the lights and make wishes.

On the day itself, many people visit a temple in the morning, bow before the main hall, and pour ladles of sweet-scented water over a small baby Buddha statue in the gwannbul ritual. People often dedicate a lotus lantern with their name or a prayer slip attached, then walk under ceilings of lanterns in the temple courtyard. In Seoul, the best-known public celebration is the Yeondeunghoe parade, when giant lanterns, temple groups, musicians, and marchers move through central streets after dark. Temple grounds can be busy all day with chanting, lantern-making, and simple free meals for visitors. A common phrase on the day is 부처님 오신 날, the usual Korean name for the holiday.

The pack has 36 words spread across these domains.