정선 ‘삼찌기’ 축제 아시나요?…전통문화·농촌 체험 한자리에서

The three-steaming (삼찌기) festival is set to take place at the Jeonseon Rural Experience Center in Jeonseon-gun, Gangwon-do, from July 27th to 29th. Organized by the Jeonseon Cultural Center and the Jeonseon Upland Folk Heritage Conservation Society, this event will showcase the traditional 'Jeonseon Upland Folk' three-steaming culture.

This unique cultural heritage, recognized as a Gangwon-do intangible cultural asset, involves communal labor in harvesting and steaming mugwort together, accompanied by traditional music and dance. This collective effort reflects the communal spirit and wisdom of Jeonseon's ancestors.

The festival will feature several activities, including the traditional process of harvesting mugwort, preparing the fields, and drying the mugwort. On July 28th, the dawn lighting ceremony will commence, followed by the step-by-step process of stacking mugwort, covering it with straw, and burying it in the ground. On the final day, July 29th, the final stages of unearthing the mugwort and drying it will be demonstrated.

In addition to the traditional demonstration, visitors will have the opportunity to experience the preparation of everyday items made from mugwort, such as mats and clothing, as well as participate in other hands-on activities reflecting Jeonseon's rural life cycle.

Jeonseon is well-known as a leading producer of mugwort in the region. Throughout the year, residents plant mugwort seeds in spring, cultivate the plants, and together undertake the communal task of three-steaming in summer. In winter, families gather to share meals made with the harvested mugwort, and throughout the changing seasons, the community's customs have been preserved.

Jeonseon's Cultural Center Director, Jeon Sae-bok, emphasized that the three-steaming festival preserves the rich historical and cultural value of this traditional culture, aiming to promote its significance and foster a sense of community among local residents and visitors.