Surge seen in cremations, purchase of funerary clothing
With the lunar calendar entering a period of good fortune, actions normally thought of as causing bad luck are on the increase, such as the cremation of remains, as well as activities afforded extra luck, including the purchase of funerary clothing. Yundal, which falls between August 24 and September 21 this year, is regarded as a period of heightened good fortune, when people can do things without worrying about bad luck. Experts say Yundal comes every three years, due to the 11-day difference between the lunar and solar calendars. For those who follow traditional practices, bodies of deceased relatives are buried in cemetaries until an auspicious day, when they are disintered and cremated. The ashes are then scattered or reburied at family grave mounds.Since the period started, a cremation center located in Gyeonggi Province said its business has surged to a daily average of 40 cremations per day, from an average of two to three. On the weekend of September 2 and 3, the number jumped to 77 and 61, respectively. The cremation center said that it is running two to four additional furnaces and has extended its operating hours to meet the rising demand for cremation. "Since people believe that bad luck can be avoided during Yundal, demand seems to be rising," said Kim Geun-baek, who is in charge of the cremation division at the Seoul Metropolitan Facilities Management Corporation, which runs the crematorium in Gyeonggi Province. Funerary clothing is also in high demand, as people believe they will enjoy longevity if they purchase the clothes during the Yundal period. Department stores have responded, hiking prices on funerary clothing. "This year we expect to chalk up around 500 million won (US$510,000) in sales, 10 times more than in an ordinary period," one clothing retailer said. Some say that this year’s Yundal is more fortuitous than before as it coincides with "ssangchunnyeon," or "two springs" occurring during the same lunar year. Ssangchunnyun is also regarded as a lucky period. Others call this "double fortune" idea groundless, citing the fact that there is no mention in historical documents about the idea of extra luck during ssangchunnyeon.
