Writer: Chanchal Bharti (Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India)
Editor: Prachi Vaid (Delhi, India)
The first day of the Korean Lunar Year Calendar, commonly known as “Seollal,” is the Korean Lunar New Year, which the people of South Korea ecstatically celebrate between January and February. This year, “Seollal” is on February 17th. People in South Korea return to their hometowns on this day to catch up with relatives and friends and celebrate the holiday. The Korean counterpart of the Chinese New Year is known as “Seollal.”
History and Duration
The origins of “Seollal” can be traced back to the Chinese New Year. It normally lasts three days: the day before Korean New Year, Korean New Year Day, and after Korean New Year Day. Most people spend time with their families at home to celebrate with relatives and pay respect to ancestors.
How to Celebrate Seollal
On this day, people in Korea typically wear their traditional, eye-catching attire, known as “Hanbok.” They begin their Seollal celebrations by completing ancestral ceremonies known as “Charye” to honour their ancestors and do “Seh Bae” (a deep bow to the floor). Families would traditionally begin by performing Seh Bae to deceased relatives and providing food and wine to their spirits. Children are given money and wise words as New Year’s gifts, and everyone wishes each other well for the coming year.
The entire family will then meet for a special New Year’s lunch after performing Charye. Most Koreans consider “Tteokbokki” to be their signature dish, and they think that eating “Tteokguk” (rice cake soup) on New Year’s Day will add one more year to one’s age, and that Seollal day is every Korean’s birthday. Tteokbokki and Tteokguk are included in the dinner. After everyone has finished eating, it’s time to distribute the gifts. The younger family members do a Seabae and give their elders gifts. Elders return “Seabaedon” (New Year’s money) to them in a pouch called “Bokjumeoni”.
Family Activities and Customs
Following breakfast or lunch, it’s time for a more casual family gathering. Family time varies by families and could mean traditional outdoor games like kite-flying or Tuho, and board games such as Yunnori, etc. For girls and young women, “Neolttwigi” (널 뛰기) was a popular activity in which a long board would be laid atop a stand of some kind to create a seesaw. Two people would stand on opposite ends, taking turns jumping and launching the other into the air, back and forth. At the end of the day, they mark it as a beautiful and simple Korean celebration.
This is how the people of Korea celebrate their first New Year’s Day. Do let us know in the comments how you celebrate your New Year!
This was a warm and informative overview of Seollal, especially for readers who are new to Korean culture. I appreciated the explanation of Charye and Sehbae, since those rituals really show how deeply family and respect are rooted in the holiday. However, I wish the article had explored the cultural meaning a bit more beyond just listing customs — for example, how modern celebrations differ from traditional ones. Still, it’s a good introduction that makes Seollal feel meaningful rather than just another festival date.
Seollal feels so special because it reminds me of our Hindu New Year – both celebrate family, blessings, symbolic foods, and the joy of new beginnings. Even though the traditions look different, their essence is the same: honoring the past, embracing renewal, and sharing together ✨ Both festivals go beyond simply marking the start of a new year. But what makes Seollal unique is that it feels like a cultural reset button, since everyone grows a year older together- a concept that’s truly fascinating!
Seollal sounds so beautiful and meaningful. The way families travel back home, wear hanbok, perform charye, and share tteokguk together really shows how deeply rooted tradition and family values are in Korean culture. I especially love the idea that eating rice cake soup means gaining a year of age, it’s such a symbolic and heartwarming custom. Celebrations that focus on family, respect, and togetherness always feel the most special.
Seollal always feels so warm and meaningful — family, tradition, hanbok, delicious food, and beautiful wishes for the new year. Wishing everyone prosperity and joy this year! 🧧✨
Wow seollal celebration sounds so heartwarming. In this modern age keeping your family values & traditions alive is such an amazing thing. Really liked how they wear use it show respect to family members including younger ones too by giving them “bokjumeoni” in pouch & also pay respect to ancestors at the same time.
Seollal feels like such a heartfelt celebration because it’s not only about welcoming a new year but also about honoring family and traditions. I really appreciate how rituals like Sehbae and sharing tteokguk bring generations together in one meaningful moment. It shows how culture can stay strong when families actively pass it down with love and intention.
Waaaooo very nice 🙂
Lucky to attend this ! I got to wear hanbok too ..it was too pretty 😭🫶🏻I also got to witness how Koreans welcome their new years 💜