Presented in a beautiful and colorful pouch, the gift has deep meaning for South Koreans. What is Seollal () Photo: Getty Images Seollal () is one of the important traditional Korean holidays in South Korea. After sebae, the children receive ‘sebaetdon’ or New Year’s money as a gift from their elders. Activities and performances run from 11AM to 5PM from February 9th to February 11th, 2024. Tons going on at Namsangol Hanok Village for Korean Lunar New Year in Seoul. While performing the ritual, one must wear ‘hanbok’. During Seollal in Seoul, crowds descend upon its beautiful grounds to watch outdoor performances, play traditional games and try out different activities. This deep traditional bow signifies respect. Younger people must bow deeply to their elders and wish them a happy new year. It is the act of kneeling on the ground and bowing deeply so that your hands are also on the ground. In South Korea, the clear broth and white rice cakes of tteokguk are believed to symbolize starting out the year with a clean mind and body.Īnother important ritual that is followed is called ‘sebae’. Another very common dish is ‘ddeokguk’ or rice cake soup which, though eaten throughout the year, carries special significance on Seollal. Though the food prepared for the ceremony of charye differs by region, the most common varieties are rice, soup, meat, seafood, liquor, fruit and vegetables. Then the family gets together for a ceremony called ‘eumbok’ where they eat the food blessed by the ancestors, allowing them to start the new year with many blessings and prosperity. Charye involves the preparation of food by female relatives and the serving of food to ancestors by male relatives. One of the most important rituals performed during this auspicious occasion is called ‘charye’. It is also considered respectful for people to visit their mothers and fathers-in-law during the Korean New Year. Often, the family members first visit the elders, and this includes the grandparents and the parents. Since it is one of the few times families may be able to get together and catch up on one another's lives, it is considered respectful and important to attend the holiday. Many Koreans travel from overseas to visit their families for this annual holiday.

Compared to Chuseok, Seollal carries more importance as it is treated as a holiday to spend with their family members in their hometown. In such a case, the New Year falls on the third new moon after the solstice. Seollal generally occurs in January or February on the second new moon after the winter solstice, unless there is an intercalary eleventh or twelfth month in the lead-up to the New Year.

Seollal korean lunar new year