伐草 or 禁草: Cutting Weeds Around Graves

1.
Since a heavy rainshower was expected in the last weekend, I'd thought the planned Beolcho(伐草: to mow grasses/weeds around ancestors' graves) would be delayed. But the expectation was totally wrong and I had to work in the rain. Fortunately the rain was not pouring so much during the work and I think it was far better than to work under the hot sun.

2.
Once the well-cared graves or tombs were the missions of offsprings in Korea. Especially before Chuseok(秋夕, Korean Thanksgiving Day), all the graves should be kept clean and clear for the upcoming memorial services or rites, Charey, 茶禮. Really hard labors were the gardening works for graves in the middle or higher place in hills, I think.

3.
The recently built family graveyard had saved great amounts of workloads. (Refer to the previous posting if interested) Even though I don't have any grave to care about officially, I'd used to join in the hard daily labor two or three times in every hot summer till the last year with the name of the family business. Really strong reason of family businesses in this 21st century! That meant anyway I had to spend two or three weekends and it had been really annoying thing.. Of course some of relatives(old gentlemen) looked to be very happy and be willing to join in..

This year, however, thanks to the graveyard, the number of graves for Beolcho was definitely reduced, definitely. It was possible since we had made a big grave for more than 18 graves' souls. In addition, the graveyard was so new, and not so much to do there. Much more people were gathered for a less job! The work had been finished in the morning, which I'd never imagined before. Such an early mission completion!

(The picture is the one I tried to post in May! One of the stone is for my wife and me...)


4.
I couldn't avoid some extra job for close relatives after lunch. That was fine. Only two I had to work for. That was really fine. While working, we had talked about the reducing number of families, and the increasing age gap between generations.


5.
I was late in that morning, and forgot to bring my camera, so I couldn't take pictures for the above works as well as for another reaping in mommy's field. Grapes and pears were the products of the last week.

( I took this after back to home)