Seollal —Korean New Year is one of the important festivals that South Korean residents celebrate.
When the Korean New Year is celebrated?
South Koreans celebrate Seollal —Korean New Year on the 1st day of the 1st month of the lunar calendar. The upcoming Seollal is expected on Friday, 12th February 2021.
How Do The Koreans Celebrate Seollal?
People celebrate Seollal —Korean New Year with Great Spirit. Family members and relatives get together to practice their different traditions to celebrate the spirit of this day. There are many interesting rituals and today we talk about some of them in detail.
We will also introduce our readers to the cultural activities that take place in South Korea (mainly Seoul) for both locals and foreigners during the Seollal holiday period.
Public Holidays of The Korean New Year
South Korea, the government announces public holidays to celebrate this occasion. The holidays may vary as the lunar calendar varies every year. This year, in 2020, there was consecutive Seollal public holiday period from 24 to 27 January 2020. During this consecutive public holiday period, people pay a visit to their hometowns for celebration.
Korean New Year Greetings
If you are a resident of South Korea or you are a foreigner but want to celebrate Seollal, the first and foremost thing that you need to learn is New Year Greetings. People around the globe say, “Happy New Year” to celebrate the spirit of New Year. Similarly, South Koreans greet everyone by saying, “새해 복 많이 받으세요” that literally means, “Please receive a lot of luck or blessings in the New Year”.
Gifts for Everyone On the Korean New Year
The most beautiful thing about this event is that it brings presents to everyone. The elders give gifts to Youngers while kids exchange gifts with their friends. Usually, people exchange gifts in the last week before Seollal. South Koreans spend a whole week in buying gifts for their families, friends, and relatives.
Some Gift Ideas for the Korean New Year
Meanwhile, if you are not sure what sort of gifts can be exchanged on this event, please see the list below:
- Cash
- Gift baskets or packs containing traditional sweets and cookies like Spam, tuna, Hangwa
- Dried or fresh seafood, Hanu
- Toiletry gift sets such as shampoo, soap, toothpaste, etc.
Besides the above recommendations, the gifts may vary depending on economic situations and gift trends.
Rituals of Seollal’s Eve
The very first and important ritual that people perform is hiding their shoes. There is a common Korean Belief that says ghosts come to the world before Seollal eve. Ghosts come in this world; try different shoes take away the shoes that perfectly fit them. In case, one’s shoes go missing because ghosts take them away, bad luck will follow him/her the whole year.
So, people hide their shoes a night before Seollal eve.
How to Start Your Seollal Day
People get up early in the morning and rush to the market to buy Bokjori, – bamboo strainer used for washing rice before cooking). They hang this strainer high on their house’s wall to bring/catch the good luck and fortune.
Moreover, South Koreans believe that the one who will reach the market earlier to buy the strainer, the more good luck he/she will bring in house.
How to Dress up on Seollal?
Of course, people prefer traditional clothing to celebrate this auspicious day. South Koreans wear Hanbok on this day.
The embroidered patterns and the colours of on Hanbok represent the ceremonial nature of the Hanbok. They also reflect the social status i.e. The Korean royalty wear different Hanbok than the commoners.
Charye– Ancestral Worship Ceremony
Koreans do believe that their ancestors visit them on Seollal and enjoy the rituals. So they prepare food to pay tribute to their ancestors and call this practice “Charye”. They also pray for the peace and better after-life of their ancestors.
Regarding the food, a proper food table is set with fresh food. There are rules to set this table.
1st Row
Utensils, Cups, Ddeokguk (rice cake soup)
2nd Row
Guksu (noodles), Yukjeon (meat pancakes), Sojeon (beef pancakes), Eojeok (fish), Siluddeok (rice cakes)
3rd row
Meat soup, beef soup, fish soup
4th row
Po (jerky), Namul (seasoned vegetables), Ganjang (soy sauce), Nabak kimchi (kimchi), Sikhye (a sweet drink).
5th row
Fruits and desserts
Sebae, the Korean new year bow
After eating the food, the young members of every family perform a ritual called Sebae–New Year’s bow. They also present gifts to their elders on this occasion. In return, elders give prayers and blessings and moreover, elders also give Sebaedon– New Year’s money.
Family Fun Activities
On this auspicious day, Koreans play many traditional games. Story-telling sessions also take place. Moreover, families gather in one place to watch movies.
To enjoy the places in Korea, you need to get a driver’s license. Help yourself through this link .
Cultural Activities
People celebrate Seollal, the Korean new year, with the Great Spirit. Family members and relatives get together to practice their different traditions to celebrate the spirit of this day. There are many interesting rituals and today we talk about some of them in detail.
We will also introduce our readers to the cultural activities that take place in South Korea (mainly Seoul) for both locals and foreigners during the Seollal holiday period.
Did you drool over the Korean food and party pictures? What else are you waiting for then go and have fun with your Korean friends!
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