The dragon may not exist in reality, yet it is one of the most familiar legendary creatures to us. It has long stood close to our daily lives as a powerful spiritual being, a symbol of authority, and a mystical guardian of the nation. For our ancestors, the dragon was regarded as a symbol of hope and achievement, so much so that the gateway to success and high office was called the Dragon Gate (Deung-yong-mun). May you, too, walk alongside this mighty creature and receive the auspicious energy it bestows.
This year’s lantern is a traditional Hanji lantern inspired by one of the most beloved Korean folktales among children: Granny Red Bean Porridge and the Tiger . Once upon a time, deep in the mountains, there lived an old woman who cultivated red beans. She was so skilled at making red bean porridge that people called her “Granny Red Bean Porridge.” One peaceful day, a tiger the size of a house suddenly appeared and threatened to eat her. Granny pleaded, “I don’t mind dying, but if I do, who will make this delicious porridge? Come back in the snowy winter. You can enjoy the porridge then—and eat me if you still want to.” She barely managed to persuade the tiger to leave. Left with no one to turn to, the old woman wept alone. Just then, the items in her home—her carrying frame, a straw mat, an awl, some dung, an egg, and even a softshell turtle—gathered around and told her not to worry. When winter came and the tiger returned on the day of the winter solstice, Granny and her loyal “fri...

