Behind the Myth: Orange Fingertips

Have you ever noticed that many Korean children, women and some men have orange-dyed fingertips? It’s obviously not nail polish; the whole fingertip and nail has been stained with an iodine/orange color. When questioned about why their fingers look that way, Korean children usually don’t have an adequate answer. After reading this article, you won’t have to ask them anymore.

In the summertime, usually around August, it’s a tradition to dye your fingertips (and toenails for some) with the garden balsam flower, called bong sung ah (봉숭아). This is a flower that grows abundantly during the summer months. A powder can also be bought and used instead. The flowers are picked and mashed in a bowl until it becomes a colorful paste. Sometimes salt is used in the mix. The fingertips are coated, wrapped in plastic, and left that way overnight. In the morning, the mixture is washed off and the color on the fingers remains. Some people use clear nail polish to brighten the color. As the summer months fade into fall, so does the orange color from the fingers.

Koreans enjoy keeping old traditions alive. In the past, it was believed these flowers would ward off evil spirits and diseases. It was most likely used as a nail polish, and a dye for clothes in Korea as well as in China. The myth that coincides with this practice goes something like this: If the color on your fingers remains until the first snow of winter, then you will find and marry your true love. Today, it’s mostly done for fun.

Now that you understand this Korean tradition, perhaps you would be interested in trying it out for yourself? Imagine the look on those cute faces of Korean children when they spot your orange fingertips. Although it may not really help keep the evil spirits away, it could have other benefits. Orange dyed nails are a small price to pay for finding that special someone and living happily ever after.

With information and photo from daughterofkorea.blogspot.kr