Pig dreams spell good fortune

The following is a tip on traditional Korean language and customs in response to a query from a Ms. Rogers, who wrote to us from Seoul:

Q. Ms. Rogers:
The young Korean students that I teach often make fun of anyone whose body frame is slightly larger than an average Korean’s but who, back in my hometown in the United States, would be perfectly normal. Among the nasty names they use for these overweight people, dwaeji or pig, is uttered most often, so I always thought that the animal carried a negative meaning in Korea.

The same children have also told me that they would pray for me to dream about a big pig so that I have good luck. What’s happening here?

A. IHT-JAD:
Although the word dwaeji is used to describe overweight people, the pig traditionally represents good fortune. According to popular belief, if a person dreams about a pig entering their home they will experience good luck. By the same token, a steamed pig’s head and pork dishes are offered at Korean housewarming parties. And children are taught to save their money in a Korean-style piggy bank.