Pyebaek

The ceremony steps

The ritual starts with the older generation sitting behind a table covered in a red cloth. A painted screen stands behind them. The couple kneels and performs a deep bow, pressing their foreheads to their hands. The bride offers jujubes and chestnuts to the groom's parents. These fruits symbolize a wish for many children. The couple may also share cups of cheongju wine. The parents then throw the fruits back at the bride. She tries to catch them in her skirt. This act represents catching good fortune and future offspring.

Traditional foods

Food plays a central role in this gathering. The bride often prepares dried persimmons called gotgam. These represent endurance because the trees require grafting to grow. Sweet fried cookies known as yakgwa symbolize wealth. A cinnamon punch called sujeonggwa stands for harmony. A sweet rice drink named sikhye signifies a sweet life together. Handmade meat jerky is given to the mother-in-law. A platter of nine snacks is presented to the father-in-law to wish for completeness.

Attire and appearance

Participants wear traditional hanbok clothing. The bride wears a green jacket and a red skirt embroidered with symbols of longevity. Her hair is styled with pins and a small crown called jokduri. Red dots may appear on her cheeks. The groom wears a blue hanbok with a black hat. Family members dress in colors appropriate to their status. In modern times, mothers might wear hanbok while fathers wear suits.

Modern changes

The practice has evolved over time. Originally, it only involved the groom's family. Today, brides' families often join the ceremony. In the United States, some couples hold pyebaek before the main event. Others add it after the reception. Commercial services help those unfamiliar with the details. This shift shows how Korean Americans maintain heritage while adapting to new environments.

How Pyebaek is kept

The couple kneels before the groom's parents who sit behind a table. They perform a deep bow. The bride presents jujubes and chestnuts to the elders. The couple shares wine. The parents throw the fruits back at the bride to catch in her skirt. They offer wisdom about marriage. The bride may also give dried persimmons and meat jerky to the in-laws.

When and where

It occurs after the main wedding ceremony or reception. In South Korea, it traditionally happens a few days later. In the United States, it may take place before the ceremony. It involves only close family members.

This custom is strongest in South Korea among Korean communities. It is also practiced by Korean Americans in the United States. The setting usually includes a table with a red cloth and a painted screen.

What Pyebaek means

The ritual honors the groom's parents and introduces the bride. Jujubes and chestnuts symbolize a wish for many children. Catching them in the skirt represents securing good fortune. Dried persimmons show endurance. The number nine in snacks stands for completeness. The whole event wishes for harmony and prosperity.

Who takes part

• The bride: Bows deeply and catches fruits in her skirt
• The groom: Bows and offers wine to his mother
• The groom's parents: Receive gifts and throw fruits back at the bride
• The bride's mother: Prepares traditional foods like dried persimmons

If you are a guest

Guests are usually limited to immediate family. They watch the bowing and gift exchange. They receive the thrown fruits if they participate. They do not typically bring gifts unless specified. The atmosphere is intimate and respectful.

Then and now

The ceremony has adapted to modern life. It now often includes the bride's family. Some couples hold it after the reception. Others schedule it before the main event. Commercial services assist with the details. This reflects cultural integration in diaspora communities.

On the wedding table

• Jujubes: Symbolize children and are tossed at the bride
• Chestnuts: Symbolize children and are tossed at the bride
• Gotgam: Dried persimmons given to parents-in-law
• Yakgwa: Sweet cookies symbolizing wealth
• Sujeonggwa: Cinnamon punch representing harmony
• Sikhye: Sweet rice drink signifying sweetness

Symbols: Rice and grain The colour red The colour white Wine and the shared cup

Pyebaek dates: 2026, 2027, 2028

This date follows the moon or a local calendar and can move by a day, so check with a local source nearer the time.

Questions people ask about Pyebaek

See also

Indian Wedding BlessingA modern poem often recited at weddings in the United States, falsely attributed to Native American traditions.Marriage in KoreaA look at how Korean weddings blend ancient Confucian rites with modern legal practices.Slave marriages in the United StatesThe unions formed by enslaved African Americans before and after the abolition of slavery in the US.Blessing ceremony of the Unification ChurchA large-scale marriage rededication or new union ceremony that engrafts couples into a sinless lineage.

Good reading and sources

• Pyebaek on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Wedding customs differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-05.