Joie de vivre and optimism in public life

Neolttwigi or nol-ttwigi ( ko, 널뛰기) is a traditional outdoor game of Korean women and girls that is typically enjoyed on traditional holidays such as Korean New Year,

Chuseok ''Chuseok'' (; , literally "autumn evening"), also known as ''Hangawi'' (Hangul: ; ; from archaic Korean for "the great middle (of autumn)"), is a major mid-autumn harvest festival and a three-day holiday in South Korea celebrated on the 15th ...

, and Dano. Neolttwigi is similar to

seesaw A seesaw (also known as a teeter-totter or teeterboard) is a long, narrow board supported by a single pivot point, most commonly located at the midpoint between both ends; as one end goes up, the other goes down. These are most commonly found a ...

, except that participants stand on each end of the ''Neol'' (board) and jump, propelling the person opposite into the air. When performed as a spectacle,

acrobatic Acrobatics () is the performance of human feats of balance (ability), balance, agility, and motor coordination. Acrobatic skills are used in performing arts, sports, sporting events, and martial arts. Extensive use of acrobatic skills are most ...

tricks such as flips or skipping rope while in the air are often included. It is thought that

Yangban The ''yangban'' () were part of the traditional ruling class or gentry of dynastic Korea during the Joseon Dynasty. The ''yangban'' were mainly composed of highly educated civil servants and military officers—landed or unlanded aristocrats ...

women developed ''Neolttwigi'' to see over the walls that surrounded their homes, as women in traditional Korea were rarely allowed out of their living compounds, except at night. According to the legend, a wife who wants to see a husband trapped in a prison over a high wall could see the face of a husband through Neolttwigi with a wife of another sinner. Neolttwigi also helped to alleviate the lack of exercise.

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Teeterboard The teeterboard or Korean plank is an acrobatic apparatus that resembles a playground seesaw. The strongest teeterboards are made of oak (usually 9 feet in length). The board is divided in the middle by a fulcrum made of welded steel. At each end ...

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References

Korean games Articles containing video clips {{Korea-stub