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See Also
See Again
© Getty Images
0 / 26 Fotos
Jogyesa Temple - The ceremony is held at Jogye Temple in Seoul.
© iStock
1 / 26 Fotos
Monk's head - Around 10 boys take part in the ceremony each year.
© Reuters
2 / 26 Fotos
Preparation - The boys are between five and seven-years-old and have their heads completely shaved.
© Getty Images
3 / 26 Fotos
Mini-monks - The boys usually stay at the temple for around two weeks, where they learn about the teachings of Buddha and the monks' way of life.
© Getty Images
4 / 26 Fotos
Apparel - During the ceremony, the children wear the gray robes traditionally worn by monks, known as Seungbok.
© Getty Images
5 / 26 Fotos
Religion - Although Buddhism is not the major religion of South Korea, it is an important cultural component of the country. Buddha's birthday is a national holiday.
© Reuters
6 / 26 Fotos
Religion - There are 26 Buddhist sects and 9,231 temples in South Korea, according to the BBC.
© Getty Images
7 / 26 Fotos
Religion - According to the BBC, about 11 million South Koreans identify as Buddhist.
© Reuters
8 / 26 Fotos
Bow - After having their heads shaved, the baby Buddhas bow towards the Buddha statue.
© Getty Images
9 / 26 Fotos
Ambassadors - Jogyesa's monks teach the children to act as ambassadors of Buddhism.
© Reuters
10 / 26 Fotos
Rubber shoes - The little monks also get to wear Gomusin, literally translated as "rubber shoes," as part of the traditional costume.
© Reuters
11 / 26 Fotos
Kids - Even mini monks are still kids!
© Reuters
12 / 26 Fotos
Devotion - The shaving of the head and the gray robes symbolize a monastic’s devotion to a simple and spiritual life.
© Getty Images
13 / 26 Fotos
Kids - Even the dedicated get playful sometimes!
© Getty Images
14 / 26 Fotos
Reactions - Each boy reacts differently to the ceremony, especially to the shaving of the head. Some laugh and make funny faces upon seeing themselves in the mirror, while others cry.
© Getty Images
15 / 26 Fotos
Learning opportunity - The children get the opportunity to learn from experienced monks.
© Reuters
16 / 26 Fotos
The objective - After the ceremony, the children learn about different Buddhist beliefs.
© Getty Images
17 / 26 Fotos
Lanterns - Buddha's birthday is also celebrated with lotus flower lanterns, which symbolize rising above the entrapment of ordinary life to attain enlightenment. The beautiful flower famously grows in mud ponds and serves as a metaphor.
© iStock
18 / 26 Fotos
Wishes - Temples around the country are filled with lanterns with people's wishes are written and hung alongside them.
© iStock
19 / 26 Fotos
Lanterns - This year, the Lotus Lantern Festival starts on Buddha's Birthday on May 5 and will go through May 22.
© Getty Images
20 / 26 Fotos
Festival - The festival is a tradition that dates back thousands of years. Participants gather to wish happiness and well-being to the world.
© Getty Images
21 / 26 Fotos
Festival - On May 12, a huge lantern procession will take place on the streets of Seoul.
© Getty Images
22 / 26 Fotos
Thematic - The parades are always related to wishes of peace and harmony.
© Getty Images
23 / 26 Fotos
Dragon - The festival also pays homage to the country's dragon tradition.
© Getty Images
24 / 26 Fotos
Colorful - The festivities also include other traditions, such as a procession displaying traditional dance and small lanterns.
© Getty Images
25 / 26 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 26 Fotos
Jogyesa Temple - The ceremony is held at Jogye Temple in Seoul.
© iStock
1 / 26 Fotos
Monk's head - Around 10 boys take part in the ceremony each year.
© Reuters
2 / 26 Fotos
Preparation - The boys are between five and seven-years-old and have their heads completely shaved.
© Getty Images
3 / 26 Fotos
Mini-monks - The boys usually stay at the temple for around two weeks, where they learn about the teachings of Buddha and the monks' way of life.
© Getty Images
4 / 26 Fotos
Apparel - During the ceremony, the children wear the gray robes traditionally worn by monks, known as Seungbok.
© Getty Images
5 / 26 Fotos
Religion - Although Buddhism is not the major religion of South Korea, it is an important cultural component of the country. Buddha's birthday is a national holiday.
© Reuters
6 / 26 Fotos
Religion - There are 26 Buddhist sects and 9,231 temples in South Korea, according to the BBC.
© Getty Images
7 / 26 Fotos
Religion - According to the BBC, about 11 million South Koreans identify as Buddhist.
© Reuters
8 / 26 Fotos
Bow - After having their heads shaved, the baby Buddhas bow towards the Buddha statue.
© Getty Images
9 / 26 Fotos
Ambassadors - Jogyesa's monks teach the children to act as ambassadors of Buddhism.
© Reuters
10 / 26 Fotos
Rubber shoes - The little monks also get to wear Gomusin, literally translated as "rubber shoes," as part of the traditional costume.
© Reuters
11 / 26 Fotos
Kids - Even mini monks are still kids!
© Reuters
12 / 26 Fotos
Devotion - The shaving of the head and the gray robes symbolize a monastic’s devotion to a simple and spiritual life.
© Getty Images
13 / 26 Fotos
Kids - Even the dedicated get playful sometimes!
© Getty Images
14 / 26 Fotos
Reactions - Each boy reacts differently to the ceremony, especially to the shaving of the head. Some laugh and make funny faces upon seeing themselves in the mirror, while others cry.
© Getty Images
15 / 26 Fotos
Learning opportunity - The children get the opportunity to learn from experienced monks.
© Reuters
16 / 26 Fotos
The objective - After the ceremony, the children learn about different Buddhist beliefs.
© Getty Images
17 / 26 Fotos
Lanterns - Buddha's birthday is also celebrated with lotus flower lanterns, which symbolize rising above the entrapment of ordinary life to attain enlightenment. The beautiful flower famously grows in mud ponds and serves as a metaphor.
© iStock
18 / 26 Fotos
Wishes - Temples around the country are filled with lanterns with people's wishes are written and hung alongside them.
© iStock
19 / 26 Fotos
Lanterns - This year, the Lotus Lantern Festival starts on Buddha's Birthday on May 5 and will go through May 22.
© Getty Images
20 / 26 Fotos
Festival - The festival is a tradition that dates back thousands of years. Participants gather to wish happiness and well-being to the world.
© Getty Images
21 / 26 Fotos
Festival - On May 12, a huge lantern procession will take place on the streets of Seoul.
© Getty Images
22 / 26 Fotos
Thematic - The parades are always related to wishes of peace and harmony.
© Getty Images
23 / 26 Fotos
Dragon - The festival also pays homage to the country's dragon tradition.
© Getty Images
24 / 26 Fotos
Colorful - The festivities also include other traditions, such as a procession displaying traditional dance and small lanterns.
© Getty Images
25 / 26 Fotos
South Korean kids become monks to celebrate Buddha's birthday
The first ceremony was held for the short-term monks
© Getty Images
The Buddhist world is busy preparing for Buddha's birthday on May 8. Preparations for the biggest holiday in the Buddhist tradition have been at full steam since April 25, and part of the proceedings is the Children Becoming Buddhist Monks program. Check out these amazing photos from the preparations in South Korea.
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