Khushi Vaid, New Delhi: In South Korea, the advent of the full moon on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month – around the Autumn Equinox, which occurs at the end of summer or early autumn – marks a major national holiday known as Chuseok, occasionally known as Hangawi, it is usually a three-day holiday. Chuseok, one of Korea’s three major holidays; the others being Seollal (January 1) and Dano (a day of spiritual rites), is traditionally observed to thank the nature for a bountiful harvest and to wish for another generous harvest in the coming year. There are many folklores or chronicles regarding the origin of Chuseok and few of the concrete stories I’ll be sharing here to understand how this tradition got started.
Tag: Charye
Seollal: Korean New Year
Ekta Aggarwal, New Delhi: Seollal or Eumnyeok Seollal/음력 설랄 is South Korea’s most popular and important holiday. It is a traditional festival to celebrate the first day of the Korean lunar calendar. The celebration of Seollal lasts for 3 days; beginning the day before, the New year’s day itself, and concluding the next day. Korean New Year usually falls on the second new moon in January or February. In the case of a lunar leap month, the new year falls on the third new moon. Seollal is a public holiday in South Korea; during this period, several enterprises are closed down and a paid vacation is offered for families to spend time together and visit their relatives.