Though apples and pears are typically used, strawberries and bananas have emerged as new popular options. (Image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Feb. 13 (Korea Bizwire) – An increasing number of households are using strawberries and bananas for ancestral memorial rites during the Lunar New Year.
According to data from the Rural Development Administration (RDA), over 8 in 10 South Koreans buy fruits for memorial ceremonies, with nearly 1 in 4 serving strawberries and bananas for their ancestors during a traditional Lunar New Year ceremony called jesa.
As part of the ritual, South Koreans serve food including fruits in memory of their ancestors.
Though apples and pears are typically used, strawberries and bananas have emerged as new popular options.
An increasing number of households are using strawberries and bananas for ancestral memorial rites during the Lunar New Year. (Image: Yonhap)
However, only 65.9 percent of South Korean households are set to hold ancestral memorial rites this year during the Lunar New Year, down from 71 percent in 2014.
The survey also revealed that more than half of the respondents haven’t yet bought or do not plan to buy agricultural food products such as fruits as gifts, with some preferring to purchase other products within the same price range.
“To help boost the sales of fruits for gifts and jesa, vendors need to make their products more appealing by improving packaging or offering a better selection of products,” an RDA official said.
M.H.Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
