To Our Arirang, Beautiful Beloved Earth
- Climate Hope
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
New Moons, the Fire Horse, Arirang
This season carries more than one sacred beginning.
Across parts of Asia (Malaysia, Singapore, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei), families celebrate Lunar New Year. In Korea, Seollal invites us to bow to our elders and honor our ancestors. This year welcomes the Fire Horse, a symbol of courage, charisma, and forward motion.
For Muslims around the world, Ramadan begins. A month of reflection, discipline, generosity, and spiritual clarity.
For Christians and Catholics, Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent. A season of repentance, humility, and reorientation.
Different languages. Different rituals.The same rhythm: pause before progress.
Which is why Arirang feels like the right song for this moment. More than a traditional folk song, Arirang is rhythm that refuses to disappear. It binds a people across an imposed 38th parallel. It carries grief, resilience, longing, and endurance across generations.
In 2016, Arirang appeared on a global stage again when BTS performed it with choreography that felt both ancestral and modern. Tradition did not stay in the past, and this year, we're excited to bring a modern take on the song as we eagerly await the release of their new album also called Arirang.
Arirang reminds us that progress is not always reinvention. Sometimes it is careful continuation.
The Fire Horse invites boldness. Ramadan teaches restraint. Lent teaches humility. Lunar New Year teaches remembrance.
Climate work needs all of it.
We need breakthrough and exploration. We need discipline and reflection. We need humility about what we inherit and what we risk losing.
How do we move forward without scorching the earth? How do we carry fire without burning the ground beneath us?
At Climate Hope, we believe culture carries climate wisdom. Songs, sacred seasons, and rituals teach us how to endure without losing ourselves.
So as we enter this rare overlap of renewal, we return to what sustains us:
Joy.
Connection.
Love.
For our families.
For our roots.
For our planet.
And yes, for our corgis.
새해 복 많이 받으세요. (Se he bok mani badu seyo)
新年快乐 (Gung Hay Fat Choy)
Ramadan Mubarak.
A meaningful Lent.
Happy Lunar New Year.
Continue the Rhythm
📺 Watch
The original BTS 2016 Arirang performance and see how tradition moved on a global stage.
🎶 Listen
To Arirang in its many forms and notice how a simple refrain carries centuries of memory and resilience.
📖 Read
Our full Arirang blog post exploring why this song still matters in a time of climate urgency.
💡 Learn
About Kpop4Planet and the growing Green Islam movement, where Muslim scholars and organizers are advancing climate justice through faith, stewardship, and ecological responsibility.
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