Seollal: The Korean Lunar New Year’s Day 1/26/09

The first day of the year according to the lunar calendar is one of the most important traditional Korean holidays. This joyful celebration known as Seollal usually lasts several days and brings the entire family together to feast, play traditional folk games, and pay respect to elders and ancestors. Like in many cultures, the start of a new year is a time to wish others well and look forward to good things. The common seasonal greeting during this time of year is saehae bok manhi badeuseyo (새해 복 많이 받으세요), which literally means “may you receive many blessings/good fortune of the new year.” The exact date of Seollal varies each year between late January and early February because it is based on the Lunar Calendar. This year Seollal falls on Jan. 26. The first day of January is also an official holiday in Korea, but is not as significant as Seollal, a time when many families leave the big cities and travel to their hometowns to reunite. Seollal is a memorable experience. It is a time to don one’s hanbok, the traditional Korean clothing worn on special occasions, enjoy a bowl of tteokguk (a soup of soft rice cake slices in broth), and perhaps play a round of the boardgame-like Yutnori, among other fun activities. Another very important part of Seollal is taking time to show respect to one’s parents and family elders with a formal bow, a tradition known as sebae, and also to ancestors by offering special food and drink in a memorial service. Although the Chinese and the Korean New Year fall on the same day according to the lunar calendar, the two have unique significance within their respective cultures. While large festivals complete with fireworks and performances are a typical element of Chinese New Year celebrations, The Korean New Year, known as Seollal in Korean, emphasizes the importance of bringing the immediate and extended family together while paying respects to ancestors and friends who have contributed to the present generation. Through traditional games such as Yutnori and a communal tug-of-war, families across Korea are reinvigorated and reminded of the common values that characterize Korean culture.