New Year's Day

In South Korea, New Year's Day (Seollal) stands as one of the most significant traditional holidays, typically celebrated according to the lunar calendar, though the solar New Year on January 1st is also observed. The celebration traces its roots back thousands of years to ancient agricultural societies when the turning of the year marked crucial seasonal changes.

During Seollal, Koreans engage in a variety of meaningful customs that reflect deep cultural values, particularly the importance of family bonds and respect for ancestors. The holiday traditionally spans three days, with families gathering in their ancestral hometowns for elaborate celebrations. The morning begins with charye, a memorial rite honoring ancestors, followed by sebae, where younger family members perform a deep bow to their elders and receive blessings and often monetary gifts called sebaetdon.

The holiday feast centers around tteokguk, a soup made with sliced rice cakes, which symbolizes starting the new year with a clean slate. Traditional belief holds that one doesn't age until they've consumed their bowl of tteokguk on New Year's Day. Families also enjoy playing traditional games like yut nori, a board game played with wooden sticks, and girls often engage in neolttwigi (seesawing).

Modern Korean society continues to embrace these traditions while adapting to contemporary life. While some younger urban dwellers might find the extensive travel and formal ceremonies challenging to maintain, most Koreans still consider Seollal an essential time for family reunion and cultural preservation. The holiday period sees one of the largest annual migrations in Korea, as millions return to their hometowns.

Unlike Western New Year celebrations that often focus on nighttime parties and fireworks, Korean New Year emphasizes family gatherings, traditional customs, and paying respect to both living elders and ancestors. However, younger generations increasingly incorporate elements of both Western and traditional celebrations, creating a unique blend of old and new customs.

The holiday also features traditional performances, with many cultural venues hosting special events showcasing Korean music, dance, and artistic traditions. Cities often organize cultural festivals during this period, allowing both locals and tourists to experience traditional Korean culture firsthand.