Understanding Seollal: Korean’s Lunar New Year Celebration and Unique Tradition

 - Author: Good Job Korean team 
- Editor: Good Job Korean team

👍 Contents (Click to navigate instantly)

✅ Introduction
✅ Preparation for Seollal
✅ Traditions of Seollal
✅ Traditional Foods
✅ Traditional Games
✅ Modern-Day Seollal
✅ Greetings During Seollal

 Seollal is a celebration to commemorate the lunar new year in Korea. Similar to other Asian countries such as China, Japan, Vietnam, etc., the Lunar New Year comes with a unique tradition deep with values of respect, unity, and gratitude. 

 In this blog post, we will explore this celebration more and understand the significance of the Lunar New Year to the Koreans.

Introduction

 Seollal, written as 설날, marks the first day of the lunar calendar. 설 means ‘the year of age’ while 날 means ‘day.’ It is a public holiday in Korea, and schools and most businesses are closed. 

*Note: The assimilation rule states that in words with ㄹ batchim followed by ㄴ consonant, the ㄴ sound changes to ㄹ sound. Therefore, we pronounce 설날 as Seollal and not Seolnal.

 The first day of the lunar calendar usually falls between late January and mid-February. This year, Seollal falls on Wednesday, the 29th of January 2025. During Seollal, family members get together to perform ancestral rites, play traditional games, and eat traditional food as they foster good fortune for the coming year. 

 Traditionally, Koreans celebrate the first day of the year to honor ancestor spirits and bring in a bountiful harvest. Generation after generation, Koreans continue to practice many customs even though they have simplified some practices over time. The celebration usually lasts three days, from the day before the lunar new year to the day after. 

Preparation For Seollal

Seollal is not just about the day itself since preparations leading up to the day are equally as important. Family members work together to ensure everything is ready for the big day. 

1. Spring cleaning

 Many Koreans deep-clean their homes before Seollal to symbolize a fresh start and wiping away bad luck while making space to welcome good fortune for the coming year. This custom is also a preparation to welcome visitations from other family members.

2. Shopping for essentials

 Most markets and stores bustle with activities as families stock up on ingredients for traditional dishes and gifts for relatives. Some Koreans also make new hanbok (한복) for the occasion.

3. Traveling to hometowns

 In contrast to Christmas, where many spend the holiday with their friends or go on dates, Koreans travel back to their hometowns to be with their families during Seollal. The mass exodus from big cities like Seoul to their hometowns is quite a sight. During this period, bus and plane tickets are usually sold out and expensive, making traveling costly for many. 

Traditions of Seollal

1. Charye (차례)

 As a unique tradition of Seollal, the day begins with 차례, a ceremonial rite to honor ancestors, where families set a low table with meticulously arranged dishes as a tribute. Family members bow deeply to show respect and express gratitude to their ancestors for the guidance and protection of their ancestors.

2. Sebae (세배)

 After 차례, the younger family members will perform 세배, the action of kneeling on the ground to give a deep bow to their elders while wishing them health and happiness in the new year. This gesture signifies a deep respect for their elders. In return, the elders offer words of wisdom and small envelopes of money called 세뱃돈 [sebaedon]. 

3. The Role of Hanbok

One of the unique aspects of Seollal is the donning of 한복, hanbok, the traditional Korean attire. Koreans traditionally wear the hanbok during the formal parts of the day, such as 차례 and 세배. The vibrant colors and elegant designs represent harmony and prosperity.

Traditional Food

 One of the traditional foods during Seollal is the rice cake soup, known as 떡국. This dish consists of white 떡 (tteok) or rice cake to symbolize purity and a fresh start. This dish also consists of round slices of 떡 that resemble coins to symbolize wealth. Therefore, eating 떡국 during the new year represents good luck and longevity. Children, especially, are excited to eat 떡국 during Seollal as this traditionally signifies a person turning one year older.

 Besides 떡국, Koreans also serve 전 [jeon], savory pancakes with various fillings such as meat, seafood, and vegetables, and 잡채 [japchae], a noodle dish containing beef and vegetables during Seollal. 

 Even though in modern days, these dishes are a staple dish or banchan (side dish) in everyday meals, Koreans especially make these during festive occasions.

Traditional games

 After all the formalities, family members gather to spend the day playing games like 윷놀이 [yutnori], a popular traditional board game. Traditionally, men or boys played 연날리기 [yeonnalligi] or kite-flying and 제기차기 [jegichagi], a game where players kick a paper 제기 into the air. On the other hand, women played 널뛰기 [neolttwigi], a game of jumping on a seesaw, and 공기놀이 [gongginori], a game using five pebbles. Both children and adults would join in the fun, fostering a sense of community and joy.

Modern-Day Seollal

 While most Koreans still practice traditional customs, Seollal has evolved today. Some families now choose to host simpler ancestral rites and substitute traditional dishes with easy-to-prepare options. Besides that, as time passes, many Koreans prefer to wear modern clothing to the 한복 during Seollal. Although the customs are simplified, the core values such as family, respect, gratitude, and the spirit of Seollal remain unchanged. 

Greetings During Seollal

 As Koreans usher in the lunar new year, they wish their family and friends good fortune for the upcoming year. Let us go through this phrase used during the Seollal greetings.

 When you greet someone during Seollal, you may say, “새해 복 많이 받으세요!” which translates to “Receive a lot of luck in the New Year!”

새해 복 많이 받으세요!
Happy New Year! / May you receive a lot of luck in the New Year!
*새해: New Year
*복: (good) luck, fortune
*많다: to be a lot
*받으시다: to receive (honorific form)

 Seollal is more than just a public holiday. It is a celebration of Korean identity and values. As you explore the traditions of Seollal, embrace its spirit of respect, gratitude, and unity.

 새해 복 많이 받으세요!

- Author: Good Job Korean team 
- Editor: Good Job Korean team