When Is The Korean New Year? Learn About the Traditions and Celebrations
When is the Korean New Year, and why is it such a significant event in Korean culture? The Korean New Year, also known as Seollal, usually falls between late January and mid-February, depending on the lunar calendar.
This year, Seollal will be celebrated on February 12th, marking the start of the Year of the Ox. Koreans around the world will gather with their families to pay respects to their ancestors, enjoy traditional foods, and participate in various cultural activities.
One of the most exciting aspects of Seollal is the traditional games that Koreans play during the holiday. These include yunnori, a board game that involves throwing wooden sticks, and jegi chagi, a game where players kick a shuttlecock with their feet.
Another important part of the celebrations is the ancestral rites ceremony, where families pay their respects to their deceased ancestors. The ceremony involves preparing a special table setting with ritual food offerings, burning incense, and bowing in front of the ancestral portraits.
Perhaps one of the more amusing traditions associated with Seollal is the kai guk ceremony. During this tradition, children bow to their elders and receive pocket money in exchange. For kids, this is one of the highlights of the holiday!
The significance of the Korean New Year goes beyond just a cultural celebration- it is also a time for reflection and setting goals for the future. Many Koreans use the holiday as an opportunity to make new year's resolutions and start the year off on a positive note.
Seollal is a time for families to come together and connect, even for those who may be living abroad. With the growth of technology, many Koreans living overseas can still take part in the festivities through virtual celebrations and live video calls.
Whether you are Korean or not, Seollal is a unique and exciting holiday to learn about and to celebrate. It offers an insight into the rich cultural heritage of Korea and showcases the importance of family, tradition, and reflection.
So, mark your calendars for February 12th and join in on the celebrations of Seollal. Learn how to play traditional games, try new foods, and appreciate the significance of this special day in Korean culture.
Don't miss out on the chance to experience an unforgettable holiday filled with warmth, joy, and tradition- Happy Seollal!
"When Is The Korean New Year" ~ bbaz
The Korean New Year, also known as Seollal, is one of the most significant traditional holidays in South Korea. This celebration falls on the first day of the lunar calendar and usually occurs between late January to mid-February. The exact date of the Korean New Year changes annually since it follows the lunar cycle.
History of Seollal
Seollal traces its roots back to the ancient agricultural rituals of Koreans, where they celebrated the New Year to pray for a prosperous harvest and good fortune for the coming year. It is a time for families to reunite, feast, and spend quality time with each other. Seollal was designated as an official national holiday in 2005, allowing Koreans to have a day off and celebrate with their loved ones.
Preparations for Seollal
Days before the Korean New Year, many people start preparing for the festivities. Koreans have many traditional customs that are still practiced today. One of the most important traditions is Charye, where families pay respect to their ancestors by offering food and drinks and bowing before the ancestral tablets. Another popular tradition is Sebae, where younger family members bow to their elders and receive blessings and money envelopes, called 'Seon'.
Seollal Food
Traditional Seollal food plays a significant role in this festive occasion. Koreans enjoy a variety of delicious dishes, but some of the most famous include Tteokguk soup, made with rice cakes, and Mandu dumplings. Additionally, families prepare plenty of fruits, nuts, and snacks to offer to visitors or have as a quick midnight snack.
Activities During Seollal
There are plenty of Seollal activities that families can enjoy together, such as playing traditional games like Yunnori, a board game, or Jegichagi, a game using a hacky sack. In modern times, Koreans also watch the annual Lunar New Year Special TV programs and spend time with family and friends having fun.
Travel During Seollal
During Seollal, many Koreans take time off from work to visit families and enjoy a vacation. Therefore, transportation during this holiday season can be difficult, and ticket prices often skyrocket. It is essential to book travel plans well in advance or avoid traveling during Seollal altogether.
In Conclusion
Seollal is a beloved Korean holiday that unites family members, allowing them to come together and celebrate their heritage. Through traditional customs, food, and games, the Korean New Year brings people together to cherish what is essential in life - having loved ones around.
This year, Seollal falls on February 12, 2021. Don't hesitate to join this celebration wherever you are in the world, learn more about Korean culture and traditions, and share the joy with your loved ones! Happy Seollal!
When Is The Korean New Year? A Comparison
The Lunar New Year Tradition
The Lunar New Year, commonly known as Seollal, is the biggest and most celebrated traditional holiday in Korea. Based on the lunar calendar, it falls between January 21 to February 20 on the Gregorian calendar. Despite sharing the same name, Seollal is different from the western New Year's Day, which falls on January 1 every year. One of the major differences is the way it is observed, which is described below.
Dates and Duration
In Korea, Seollal is a three-day holiday that starts on New Year's Eve (선물상조) and continues for two more days. Most businesses, government offices, and schools are closed during this period. It is also a time when people gather with their extended family members, including grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. As a result, many Koreans travel to their ancestral hometowns to spend the holiday with their relatives who live there.
However, unlike other holidays, Seollal has no fixed dates every year. It is because it follows the lunar calendar, which marks the beginning of the year according to the phases of the moon. Compared to the solar calendar – the one we use every day – the lunar calendar lags behind by about 11 days every year. That means the Seollal date changes annually, which can be confusing for foreigners and Koreans alike.
| Year | Seollal Date |
|---|---|
| 2022 | February 1 |
| 2023 | January 22 |
| 2024 | February 10 |
Preparations for Seollal
Before the actual holiday, many Koreans engage in a variety of traditional activities in preparation for Seollal. These include cleaning their houses to get rid of any bad luck from the previous year, buying new clothes, and decorating their homes with signs, banners, and other items that symbolize wealth and prosperity.
Another important aspect of Seollal preparation is making food. Traditionally, Koreans prepare a variety of dishes, including tteokguk (rice cake soup) and jeon (pancakes made with vegetables or meat). It is also customary to offer ancestral rites () and pay respects to their ancestors during this time. Additionally, children receive money () from their elders as a sign of good luck and blessings for the New Year.
Seollal Celebrations
The focus of Seollal celebrations is spending time with family members, especially those who live far away. Korean culture values kinship and places a significant emphasis on respecting one's elders, which is reflected in the holiday period. During Seollal, people wear traditional hanbok clothing, play traditional games, and participate in other activities, such as singing, dancing, and storytelling.
One of the most popular traditional Seollal games is yunnori, a board game that involves rolling four wooden sticks to determine the number of moves. Another game involves jwibulnori, which involves lighting straw balls on fire and spinning them around to ward off evil spirits.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Korean New Year, or Seollal, is a major holiday that is celebrated over three days between January and February. As it follows the lunar calendar, its date changes annually. Compared to western New Year's Day, Seollal is more focused on family and traditions, including food, games, and ancestral rites. For Koreans, Seollal is an opportunity to spend quality time with their loved ones and honor their culture and heritage.
References:
1. Seollal: The Lunar New Year in Korea - Visit Korea website
2. Top 10 Traditional Korean Games - Culture Trip
When Is The Korean New Year?
Introduction
The Korean New Year is known as Seollal, which means the first day of the lunar calendar. Seollal is a significant holiday in Korea and is widely celebrated across the country by family and friends. It is an important time for Korean people to catch up with their family members, eat traditional food, perform ancestral rituals, and wish each other good fortune for the year ahead.When Does The Korean New Year Occur?
The date for Seollal usually changes every year according to the lunar calendar. However, it usually falls between late January and mid-February. The exact date is determined by the first day of the lunar calendar known as Sollnal, which is based on the cycles of the moon.Preparation for the Korean New Year Celebration
In preparation for Seollal, homes are thoroughly cleaned, and new clothing, bedding, and home decorations are purchased. Traditional Korean foods such as tteokguk, jeon, and yaksik are also prepared in advance. People visit markets to buy these foods, and the markets become busy places with vendors selling goods from early morning until late at nightFood for Seollal
Tteokguk is a traditional Korean rice cake soup that is usually consumed on Seollal day. The hearty soup represents the hope for a long and fulfilling life ahead. Jeon is a savory pancake made from various ingredients such as seafood, kimchi, and vegetables. It is a popular dish among Koreans during Seollal. Lastly, Yaksik, made from glutinous rice, honey, and nuts symbolizes luck and wealth, while rice cakes called ssukguk represent good health.Activities for the Korean New Year
A significant activity of Seollal is the ancestral ritual known as charye. Charye is a ceremony where families pay respect and offer food to their ancestors. This ritual is an important aspect of Korean culture because it reminds people of their heritage and helps maintain their connection with their family roots.Another fun activity during Seollal is playing games such as yunnori, jegichagi, and neolttwigi. Yunnori involves throwing four sticks to predict one's future, and players can receive either good, bad or so-so fortunes. Jegi-chagi is a type of ball game where players use their feet and legs to keep a feathered ball in the air. And, the latter involves jumping on a large springboard, trying to reach the highest point possible.Seollal Greetings
One of the most common greetings during Seollal is Saehae bok mani badeuseyo, which means May you have a prosperous New Year. Another greeting is Seollal chukha hamnida meaning Happy Lunar New Year.Conclusion
In summary, Seollal is a significant holiday for Koreans that holds various traditions, activities, foods, and greetings. The time spent with loved ones during this period helps strengthen the bond between family members and reminds people of their cultural traditions. If you happen to be in Korea during Seollal, do not miss out on the fun-filled activities, tasting traditional foods, and learning about Korean culture.When Is The Korean New Year?
As one of the most important holidays in Korea, the Korean New Year or Seollal is celebrated with much enthusiasm and traditional practices. Falling on the first day of the lunar calendar, the date for the Korean New Year changes every year based on the lunar cycle.
This year, the Korean New Year falls on February 1, 2022, and preparations for the holiday are underway across the country. Koreans celebrate the holiday for three days, which includes the day before, the day of, and the day after the Korean New Year.
Many Korean families start preparing for the holiday weeks in advance, including cleaning their homes, buying ingredients for traditional dishes, and purchasing new clothes to wear during the celebrations.
The day before Seollal, known as 'Little Year's Eve,' family members often gather to make traditional rice cake soup, or tteokguk, together. Eating tteokguk during Seollal has a symbolic meaning that is associated with good luck and prosperity in the new year.
The main day of Seollal is called 'Seol Day.' This is when family members gather, often dressed in traditional South Korean clothing, the hanbok, to pay respect to their ancestors by visiting their graves and holding a memorial service, called charye. The ceremony involves bowing and offering food and drinks to their ancestors as a way to show gratitude and ask for their blessings in the upcoming year.
After the ceremony, families often return home to enjoy a traditional feast together, which includes foods such as bulgogi, galbi, and jeon. After the meal, family members play games together, including yunnori, a traditional Korean board game.
The third day of Seollal is known as 'Seolbong,' when family members visit their in-laws' homes or other relatives to share traditional Korean snacks together, including rice cakes, fruits, and tea. The holiday season officially ends after Seolbong.
In addition to the traditional practices, many Koreans also send greeting cards to their friends and family members during Seollal, wishing them a prosperous new year filled with happiness and good health.
For those living outside of Korea, celebrating Seollal may look different, but it can still be just as meaningful. Many Korean communities around the world often hold Seollal events, where people can learn about traditional Korean culture and participate in various activities and food tastings.
Ultimately, the Korean New Year is an important time for Koreans to show gratitude, respect, and togetherness, as well as to celebrate the new year with good luck and hope for the future.
So mark your calendar for February 1, 2022, and start planning your Seollal celebration. Have a happy and prosperous Korean New Year!
When Is The Korean New Year?
The Korean New Year, also known as Seollal, is one of the most celebrated national holidays in South Korea. This holiday falls on a different date each year in February or January, depending on the lunar calendar.
People Also Ask About the Korean New Year
- What Is The Korean New Year?
- When Does The Korean New Year Start?
- How Is The Korean New Year Celebrated?
- Is The Korean New Year a Public Holiday?
- Why Is The Korean New Year Important?
The Korean New Year, also called Seollal, is the first day of the Korean lunar calendar. This holiday is celebrated for three days and is an opportunity for families to come together to share food, perform traditional rituals, and pay respect to their ancestors.
The Korean New Year usually falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice. In 2022, Seollal will be celebrated on February 1st, and in 2023, it will be celebrated on January 22nd.
During Seollal, people usually perform traditional rituals like Charye, where they pay tribute to their ancestors, Sebae, where they bow to their elders, and Jeon, where they eat traditional food. They also wear traditional Korean clothing, called Hanbok.
Yes, Seollal is a national holiday in South Korea. Banks, businesses, and government offices are closed, and many people take this time to travel and visit their family.
The Korean New Year is an important holiday in Korea because it provides people with the opportunity to come together as family and community. It is a time of gratitude, reflection, and respect for ancestors and elders.