Korean father’s antics liven holiday season

Claire Byun 

News editor

Holiday songs are awful.

But the only thing worse than Christmas music is listening to a Korean man sing Christmas music.

For 20 long years, I’ve listened to my father sing along to the radio immediately after Thanksgiving, when the stations begin to dust off the old Christmas records.

You see, my father is Korean-before you say anything, I realize I’m pale, have blond hair and green eyes. We’re not exactly a match, I know.

Anyway, he speaks English well and can pronounce most things, but he has an endearing little Korean accent. So, when he sings carols, the accent occasionally comes out.

If he sings too fast, “Holly Jolly Christmas” turns into “Howwy Jowwy Christmas.”

It’s moments such as that that have always made my childhood Christmases a little different. My mother, who is Caucasian, always celebrated the holiday with a tree, presents and lots of food. But after marrying my dad my mother’s celebratory ways slightly changed.

In Korea, Christmas is celebrated similar to the Western way, with decorated trees and gifts and pretty lights. It’s a much more subdued holiday, however, and it not considered a very large holiday. As a child my dad’s only present was a banana, given to him by the church.

So as you can see, a big festivity for the holiday has never really been my family’s “thing.” We prefer to celebate on the down-low.

Instead of a big ham or turkey dinner at Christmas, we eat traditional Korean food. Bulgogi, which is barbecued beef marinated in tangy sauce, is the main dish. Kimchi, japchae, gimbop and rice are served as side dishes, which incorporate the vegetables and grains of our meal.

Following a more Western style, we usually watch a movie later Christmas night. Most of the time, they’re classics, such as “A Christmas Story” or “Holiday Inn.”

But a few years ago, my father found a season of his favorite television show as a child, called “Ultraman.” The 1960s Japanese-made series involves a superhero who saves Earth from various monsters, quite similar to Godzilla (imagine that).

Every part of my being wishes he had never found that series.

It’s excruciating. The “Ultraman” theme song will forever be stuck in my head, as well as the shoddy “special effects” created with a string and cigarette lighter. 

But even though a little part of me wants to die when I see the Japanese superman fly onto the screen, I will forever think of my dad humming to the silly theme song.

As cheesy as it sounds, Christmas time always reminds me of the silly traditions many families have. 

Some people leave cookies out for Santa. 

Some families make Christmas breakfast together before opening presents.

Some families watch ancient Japanese shows while eating Korean food.

Through all his little eccentric habits, Dad always finds a way to make Christmas fun. I just have to have an open mind about traditions and how to make the most out of family time.

This holiday season, I hope you celebrate old traditions and maybe make some new ones.

And if you’re having a bad day, sing a Christmas carol in a Korean accent. You’ll feel better.