Celebrating Seollal, the Korean New Year

Most Western people might already be counting down the days before welcoming 2016, but for Koreans, the Lunar New Year is slated to happen on February 8 next year. This article will focus on Seollal, the Korean New Year, and how it is generally being celebrated. Here’s to another way of appreciating the diversity of Korean culture!

1. Seollal is a 3-day holiday.

Koreans celebrate the Lunar New Year for 3 days, which gives them enough time to actually go back to their respective home towns, reunite with families and friends for some quality time, pay respect to elders and ancestors, and observe other typical Seollal traditions. This is indeed a great way for Koreans to welcome the new year, hoping that it will abound in prosperity and grace.

2. Charye and Hanbok

One of the highly observed traditions of Koreans during Seollal is charye¸a ritual where Koreans dress in their traditional clothing called hanbok. This is indeed a sight to behold whether you’re a local or a foreigner. You know that Koreans really regard their traditions highly when you see them donning their traditional costumes while praying to ancestral spirits, playing folk games (four-stick game), eating food, and sharing stories with their loved ones.

3. Food is serious business

Koreans take their food seriously particularly during momentous occasions like the Seollal. You’ll definitely see them eating the tteokguk (soup with rice cakes) to signify that they are aging a year older as the new year comes. Eating tteokguk has been a central part of Lunar New Year celebrations that Koreans ask one another how much tteokguk they ate. In addition, buchimgae or jeon is also a common Lunar New Year dish where slices of pancakes are served to partakers. Overall, the types of food served and eaten during the New Year just bonds Koreans during a very important occasion. It is not only the quality of the meals that is remembered; the quality time that people have spent on the dining table is also cherished.

4. Paying respects and receiving blessings

Once all the eating is over, young people will pay respects by bowing and presenting gifts to their elders. This tradition is called sebeh. In return, the elders will bless their younger loved ones so that they can enjoy a more prosperous year ahead. Kids also look forward to this tradition because they usually receive an allowance from the elders for the new year, which is referred to as sebaetdon. The allowance can come in the form of money or food!

5. Lighting a “moon” house

Some Korean families make moon houses out of firewood and light them so that the evil spirits will be driven away. This practice is considered important so that Korean families will manage to start the new year in luck and that all forms of misfortune will be extinguished.

It’s never too early to prepare for your new year celebrations! Korean BBQ Online is your trusted partner in making sure that you will all welcome the new year in the most delicious and unforgettable way possible. Drop us a line today so we can discuss.