Lunar New Year's Day in South Korea

Posted by CelebrateZone.com on Thu, May 11, 2023

Lunar New Year’s Day in South Korea

Lunar New Year’s Day is a holiday in South Korea.

When is Lunar New Year’s Day in South Korea

Lunar New Year’s Day is celebrated on 22, January, 2023 in South Korea.

About Lunar New Year’s Day in South Korea

The Lunar New Year’s Day holiday in South Korea is called Seollal. It is one of the most important traditional holidays in the country, celebrated on the first day of the lunar calendar, usually in late January or early February.

Seollal is a time for families to gather, pay respects to their ancestors, and wish each other good fortune for the upcoming year. Many Koreans travel back to their hometowns to spend time with their families and participate in traditional customs.

One of the most important traditions of Seollal is the ancestral rites, where families pay tribute to their ancestors by offering food, drinks, and incense at their ancestral graves. This is believed to bring good luck and prosperity to the family.

Another important tradition is the Sebae, where younger family members bow to their elders and offer them New Year’s greetings. In return, the elders give the younger ones money or gifts as a sign of their blessings.

During Seollal, Koreans also enjoy traditional foods such as tteokguk (rice cake soup), jeon (pan-fried dishes), and yakgwa (sweet fried cookies). They also play traditional games like yut-nori, a board game played with four sticks.

Overall, Seollal is a time for Koreans to reflect on the past year and look forward to the new one with hope and optimism.

History of Lunar New Year’s Day in South Korea

Lunar New Year’s Day, also known as Seollal, has been celebrated in South Korea for over 2,000 years. The holiday is based on the lunar calendar and falls on the first day of the first lunar month, usually in late January or early February.

During the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), Seollal was an important holiday for the ruling class. The day was marked by ancestral rituals and feasting, and it was a time for families to come together and celebrate.

After the Korean War (1950-1953), Seollal became a public holiday in South Korea. The government recognized the importance of the holiday in Korean culture and decided to make it an official holiday.

Today, Seollal is one of the most important holidays in South Korea. It is a time for families to gather, eat traditional foods, and pay respects to their ancestors. Many people travel to their hometowns to be with their families during the holiday.

Seollal is also a time for traditional games and activities. Children often play yutnori, a board game, and adults participate in a game called jegichagi, which involves kicking a small shuttlecock.

Overall, Seollal is a time for Koreans to celebrate their culture and heritage, and to spend time with their loved ones.

How is Lunar New Year’s Day celebrated in South Korea

Lunar New Year’s Day, also known as Seollal, is one of the most important holidays in South Korea. Here are some of the ways it is celebrated:

  1. Family gatherings: Seollal is a time for families to come together and celebrate. Many people travel long distances to be with their loved ones, and it is traditional to spend the day eating, drinking, and playing games together.

  2. Ancestral rites: One of the most important rituals of Seollal is the ancestral rites, or charye. Families set up a table with offerings of food and drink for their ancestors, and perform a ceremony to honor them.

  3. Traditional foods: Seollal is a time for feasting, and there are many traditional foods that are eaten during the holiday. One of the most popular is tteokguk, a soup made with sliced rice cakes and beef broth.

  4. New Year’s bow: It is customary for younger family members to perform a deep bow to their elders on Seollal, wishing them good health and fortune in the new year.

  5. Games and activities: Seollal is a time for fun and games, and there are many traditional activities that are enjoyed during the holiday. One popular game is yunnori, a board game that involves throwing sticks and moving pieces around a board.

Overall, Seollal is a time for family, tradition, and celebration in South Korea.

Dates

Lunar New Year’s Day will be celebrated in South Korea on 2023-01-22 2024-02-10 2025-01-29 2026-02-17 2027-02-07 in the comming years.