Haji (夏至)

"Haji" (夏至), which literally means "summer reach," is the tenth of the twenty-four seasonal sub-divisions, or solar terms, of the lunar calendar. The summer solstice falls in the fifth month of the lunar calendar, or around June 22 of the solar calendar. This year "Haji" falls on June 21. Astronomically speaking, Haji, or the summer solstice (夏至點), is the day when the Sun reaches its most northerly extent with the greatest declination, and its highest position (南中高度) in the sky, as well as the day with the longest hours of daylight in the northern hemisphere. Conversely, in the southern hemisphere the sun reaches its lowest position and the number of daylight hours is the shortest on the summer solstice.

하지 관련 자료

"Haji" by Lee Eok-yeong	Silkworm Breeding in Seongju County, Gyeongsangbuk-do

During this period diverse agricultural activities, including sowing buckwheat, breeding silkworms, harvesting potatoes, weeding the chili fields, harvesting and drying garlic, harvesting and threshing barley, planting rice, planting beans for a double crop, harvesting hemp, controlling pests and many more, all take place. In southern region, rice planting starts around "Dano" and everything is finished by the summer solstice, when the rainy season arrives. To say that it rains wherever clouds are, Koreans use the saying, "Past Haji, every cloud brings rain."

하지 관련 자료

Rainmaking Ritual in Seosan City, Chungcheongnam-do
Shaking off the Winnowing Basket	Setting Fire to mountain

In farming towns, if it didn't rain until "Haji," the inhabitants would perform "Giuje" (祈雨祭), a rainmaking ritual. In ancient times Korea suffered from drought damage three or four times a year, so rainmaking rituals were frequently performed by both government officials and commoners.

2010 장흥 감사수확

Harvesting potatoes in 2010 in Jangheung County, Jeollanam-do

Around the time of Haji, people all over Pyeongchang-gun in Gangwon-do would harvest potatoes and eat at least one potato in steamed rice, believing that this custom would bring an abundant potato crop. There is a saying, "Haji is the day to eat potatoes and barley turns sixty." They also say, "After Haji, barley dries up and withers." Also, once past this date, potatoes grow old and their roots rot, thus it is called "Gamja Hwangap," literally meaning "The potatoes have turned sixty." People also made and ate "Gamja cheonsin" (薦新), or potato patties, as an offering to the deities.