Seollal - Korean

Hello! I am Seollal, the Korean New Year. I am a very special and happy time for many people in Korea and for Koreans living all around the world. My celebration marks the first day of the Korean lunar calendar. This calendar is a little different from the one you might see on a classroom wall because it follows the cycles of the moon. For families who observe me, I am a time for a fresh start. It’s a chance to say goodbye to the old year and welcome all the good things the new year might bring. People spend time honoring their families, especially their elders, and wishing everyone good luck and happiness for the whole year ahead.

My history is very long, and my traditions have been passed down for many, many years. People on the Korean Peninsula have been celebrating me for a very long time. It is believed that my customs began during the time of the Three Kingdoms of Korea. This was more than one thousand years ago! Imagine all the grandmothers and grandfathers who have taught their children and grandchildren about my traditions over the centuries. Because of this, my customs have been kept alive, connecting the past with the present. Each family adds their own love to these ancient traditions, making them special every single year.

Food is a very important part of my celebration, and there is one dish that is especially famous. Many families start the new year by eating a delicious, warm soup called tteokguk. This soup is made with soft, chewy rice cakes that are sliced into thin, oval shapes. The white color of the rice cakes symbolizes a clean and bright beginning for the new year. There is even a fun saying that goes along with eating this soup: you don't officially get one year older until you have finished your bowl of tteokguk on New Year's Day. So, eating the soup is a special part of growing up and starting the year fresh.

Showing respect for older family members is one of my most important traditions. To celebrate, children often get to wear brand new clothes. Sometimes, they wear a beautiful, colorful traditional outfit called a hanbok. Dressed in their new clothes, children perform a deep bow called sebae. They kneel on the floor and bow all the way down to their parents, grandparents, and other elders. This special bow is a way to show respect and wish them a happy new year. After the children perform sebae, the elders often give them a gift of New Year's money, which is called sebaetdon, in pretty envelopes along with words of wisdom for the year to come.

Today, I am one of the most important holidays in Korea, and my celebration is a joyful time for families to come together. People who live far apart often travel long distances to be with their loved ones. Besides sharing special food like tteokguk and showing respect through sebae, families also have a lot of fun. They spend time together playing traditional games. One popular game is called Yut Nori, which is a board game played by tossing four wooden sticks instead of dice. As they play games and share stories, families make new memories while honoring the traditions that have been part of my celebration for centuries.