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Jeju, in South Korea, is a self-governing province. Before 1946 it was part of the Jeollanam-do Province. Jeju has a culture that is quite different from the rest of South Korea due to its isolation from the mainland. It has a matriarchal family structure. There are the haenyeo or the sea women who head their respective families and earn a livelihood by harvesting marine products like abalones and conchs. There are many legends related to this land. One such legend is that of the seven fairies which is celebrated as the Seven-fairies festival, Jeju. It is one of the major Jeju festivals and events.
About the Seven-fairies festival, Jeju
The Seven-fairies festival, Jeju is one of the many spring festivals celebrated by the people of Jeju. It is a cultural tour festival. The legend says that seven fairies came down on a bright star lit night to bathe in the waters of Cheonjeyeon. The word cheonjeyeon literally means pond of the Heaven’s Emperor and it is said that nymphs come down from heaven to bathe in this water body. The water here is regarded as pure which has made it a popular tourist destination. The story of the seven fairies is valued by the people of Jeju as one having a lot of wisdom to take lessons from. The Seven-fairies festival in Jeju, South Korea is held in May, every alternate year. It is held throughout the day. The festival begins early in the morning and continues till late night. The Jeju Seven-fairies Festival, South Korea is the occasion of the harmonizing of nature and legend and is marked by various programs like the seven-angel ceremony, the seven-angel dance performance, the one’s forte competition, and the dialect competition. The people of Jeju celebrate numerous festivals during spring like the Jeju Cherry Blossom Festival, the International Walkathon, Jeju, the Jeju Rape Blossoms Festival, Jeju, the Gangjeong Stream Sweetfish Festival, Jeju, the Jeju Island Pig Festival, and the Yongyeon Yabum Elegant Festival.
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