Origin & history
Buddha's Birthday commemorates the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, who later became the Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. According to tradition, he was born in Lumbini (modern-day Nepal) around 563 BCE. In South Korea, the holiday was first officially observed after Buddhism was introduced from China during the Three Kingdoms period (4th century CE). It became a national public holiday in 1975 under President Park Chung Hee, though it has been celebrated for centuries in Korean Buddhist communities. The date follows the lunar calendar, typically falling in May on the Gregorian calendar.
Customs & traditions
The most iconic tradition is the Lotus Lantern Festival (Yeon Deung Hoe), which involves parades with massive, colorful paper lanterns shaped like lotuses. People also make and release lanterns on rivers or in temples to symbolize enlightenment. Many visit Buddhist temples to offer prayers, incense, and food, and to participate in ceremonies including bathing a small statue of the baby Buddha. Special foods include lotus root rice (yeongeun bap) and steamed rice cakes (tteok). In the weeks leading up to the holiday, streets are adorned with rows of lotus lanterns, creating a festive atmosphere.
Why it is celebrated
Buddha's Birthday is a time for reflection on the Buddha's teachings of compassion, wisdom, and non-attachment. For South Koreans, it is an opportunity to practice merit-making, show respect to the Buddhist heritage, and join in community celebrations regardless of religious affiliation. The holiday promotes peace and harmony, and the lotus lanterns symbolize the light of wisdom illuminating the darkness of ignorance.