Tae kwon do demonstrations are often part of the Children's Day activities. Tae kwon do is a form of self defense that originated in Korea more than two thousand years ago and is a commonly taught martial art in the United States. It involves more sharp, quick kicking than the Japanese style karate, and was showcased for the world in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. Tae kwon do is both a physical and mental discipline. Students studying tae kwon do often will practice more than an hour each day.
Traditional foods are an important part of every Korean celebration.
Rice is eaten with all meals in Korea. Kimchi, which is pickled cabbage and strong spices and pulgolgi, which is thinly sliced broiled beef that is eaten with spicy sauces are a large part of the Korean diet. Fish, shellfish, seaweed, and other products of the ocean are prepared in many different ways to serve on Korean tables. Korean Americans are one of the fastest-growing Asian groups in the United States. Although Children's Day is not a national holiday in the U.S., it is celebrated within Korean Families on May 5.