In Hawai'i we sometimes have a blessing ceremony for new businesses, construction projects or a new home. Ti leaves, koa wood and maile lei are placed at the entrance of the property, typically followed by Hawaiian prayers.

Koreans have their own blessing ceremonies. If you watched the Korean TV drama series "On Air" two weeks ago, you would have seen the whole cast get together for a blessing ceremony tied to the launching of the new drama titled "Ticket to the Moon." What you would have found very different from Hawai'i's ceremony was that this ceremony, which has roots in shamanism practiced by many modern-day Koreans, included a table of food and a pig's head.

The ceremony, called Ko-sa, is the blessing of new ventures. The pig's head serves as several symbols, but the most important one in this blessing is its materialistic meaning of wealth and prosperity. The pig has been equated with wealth and prosperity since the dynasty period in Korea. It is believed that prosperity and wealth became symbolized by the pig because of the high number of piglets.

With the start of a new business, new TV series, movie production, construction project or even buying a new home, many hope and pray for success — primarily monetary success.

The pig as used in this ceremony is placed on the table set with other food, and alcohol. People involved with the venture then approach the table one by one and place cash, checks, or envelopes containing money into the mouth of the pig. Some people roll cash bills into a cone shape then stuff the cash into the pig's ears or nose.

After taking a few steps back from the table, participants bow to the pig and ask for success. By the end of the ceremony, the pig's head is full of cash bulging out of its mouth, ears and nose.

While some people may really believe in the ceremony, others just go through the motions because it is so deeply rooted in the culture. There is no scientific data to prove that the success of a new business is linked to this ceremony. Still, many Koreans maintain that it can't hurt. Besides, it's a way to bring together business colleagues, family, friends and investors.

After the ceremony, the new business owner keeps the money stuffed in the pig's orifices. So, the more people, the merrier. The ceremony also serves as a way for others to extend congratulations and wishes for good fortune.

I have been told that many new Korean TV series and movie projects have the blessing ceremony, but it is held privately with mainly just the core people involved in the ventures.

THIS WEEK'S K-DRAMA SYNOPSES

'HAPPINESS,'

Episode 16

Tonight, 6:30: Mrs. Ahn drops in at the Lee house unannounced, bringing food. She runs into Cheol-gon getting out of the shower and they both run from each other screaming. Mrs. Ahn stays to prepare the food and impresses the whole family. Chairman Park hears that HK may rescind the resort contract already given to his company.

'SCARY GIRL'

Episodes 93, 94

Tonight, 7:45: Young-rim meets with the land's previous owner's daughter-in-law, and learns she has a half-sibling. Young-rim refuses to believe it and says she'll return the land. Eun-hae is worried when the baby stops moving in her stomach.

Episodes 95, 96 and 97, 98

Friday, 7:45 p.m.: Eun-hae finally speaks when her father brings Young-rim to the house for dinner. Jung-jin's mom tells Young-rim off, and Jung-jin confronts Young-rim about her visit to the house. Young-rim and Seung-mi get into a fight while talking about Chairman Baek.

Saturday, 7:45 p.m.: Young-rim sends a text message to Kyung-pyo warning him of Chairman Baek's plan. Kyung-pyo threatens to show the message to Chairman Baek. Eun-hae is furious when Kyung-pyo shows the text message to her and Jung-jin. Chairman Baek calls Young-rim and happily tells her that Eun-hae told him to move out.

'LOVE'

Episodes 3 and 4

Tomorrow, 7:45 p.m.: Chul-soo panics over the news of Young-hee's pregnancy and finds solace in an accidental meeting with Park Byung-ho, a younger man in a similar predicament. Byung-ho's pregnant girlfriend, Lee Young-hee, is urged by Min-ho to sue him for sleeping with her under the false pretense of eventually marrying her.

Tuesday, 7:45 p.m.: Both Chul-soo and Byung-ho pressure their girlfriends to have an abortion. Nah Young-hee, Chul-soo's girlfriend, contemplates having the baby as a single mother, while Lee Young-hee, Byung-ho's girlfriend, contemplates suing Byung-ho for sleeping with her under false pretense of eventually marrying her.

'ON AIR'

Episodes 17 and 18

Wednesday, 7:45 p.m.: Young-eun and Seung-ah are frustrated when their ratings start to slip. Cherry, unhappy about her lack of importance on the show, decides to pull out of the show unless Young-eun changes the script.

Thursday, 7:45 p.m.: Director Kang gives SW Entertainment the ultimatum and decides to pull all SW talents from all SBC lineups. The conflict between SBC and SW Entertainment leaks to the press, and Kyong-min takes the heat from other producers.