Hyunjung Kim BBC Korean. The Lunar New Year holiday in South Korea brings families and relatives together to exchange gift money and well-wishes - but some of those well-wishes are less than welcome. Occasionally, about every 24 years, Korean New Year will occur one day after Chinese New Year because of the new moon between Korea’s midnight (15:00UTC) and China’s midnight (16:00UTC). Okay, so nearly everyone in the world has adopted the Gregorian calendar and thus celebrate new year’s day on January 1st. In the Chinese zodiac, each new year, according to the lunar calendar, is associated with one of 12 animals, and 2025 marks the Year of the Snake. Different regions in Asia may not follow the same Celebrations last for 15 days annually, with the first day depending on the sighting of the new moon. Each year, there is an animal associated with the new year; these are called the Chinese zodiac signs and for 2025, it is a Year of the Snake (learn more about what this means here). Each country that celebrates has its own traditions. For Chinese people, Lunar New Year is the Spring Festival, In Korea, the Lunar New Year is called Seollal; in Following a big clampdown on people setting off their fireworks in urban areas The day of the Lunar New Year, which is called Seollal in Korean, falls on Jan. 29 this year, with days off on the 28th and 30th as well, plus a one-time temporary holiday on the 27th to connect To this day, the Lunar New Year celebration is centered around removing bad luck and welcoming all that is good and prosperous. Red is considered an auspicious color to ring in the new year. In many Asian cultures, the color symbolizes good fortune and joy. Many Asian countries celebrate new year at this time, including Vietnam and Korea. Lunar New Year, often called the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year, is the most important holiday in China and It is a customary and heartfelt Korean New Year’s greeting, expressing wishes for abundant blessings, happiness, and prosperity in the coming year. Koreans share this warm sentiment during Seollal, the Korean New Year, in the days leading up to the arrival of the New Year, or for a while after the day. Related Page: Learning Korean Korean Lunar New Year also has its own unique customs and traditions. Korean New Year Traditions. While Christmas in Korea is usually a time for celebrating with friends or for going on dates, Seollal, like Chuseok, is more of a family-based celebration. Many Koreans travel back to their family homes during this period. A lion dance head is displayed to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year which marks the Year of the Snake on the Chinese zodiac Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, at China Town in Yokohama, south of Tokyo People bow to respect for their ancestors in North Korea, on the Lunar New Year near the military barbed-wire fence at the Imjingak Pavilion in Paju, South Korea, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP A lion dance head is displayed to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year which marks the Year of the Snake on the Chinese zodiac Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, at China Town in Yokohama, south of Tokyo This year, the Chinese New Year will fall on February 6. South Korea, however, combines the best of both worlds with two separate yet similar New Year celebrations. Year of Wood Snake 2025: What it Means for People in South Korea. In South Korea, alongside the regular Gregorian calendar, the traditional Lunar Calendar still plays a big role in preserving cultural heritage and beliefs. The Chinese New Year or the Lunar New Year is a major celebration in many Asian countries and their diasporas around the globe. Chinese New Year, also referred to as the Spring Festival, is Korean New Year’s celebrations are a mix of dynamic city events, serene nature, and delicious soup. Whether you’re having fun at the bell-ringing ceremony, chasing the first sunrise, or savoring tteokguk with family, the start of the year in Korea is full of hope and joy. I'm from Asia, too, we call it "Chinese New Year" here. The holiday is a big thing here because we have many citizens of Chinese descent. In our own culture, lunar holidays aren't really a thing, so maybe that's why we don't really care/mind if the lunar New Year is labelled as Chinese New Year. Seollal is an integral part of Korean culture and identity, marked by deeply rooted traditions centered around family respect, unity, and the celebration of new beginnings. As the world continues to globalize, Korea’s unique spins on the Lunar New Year foster a continued appreciation for its vibrant culture, showcasing Korean New Year or ‘Seollal’, falling on January 29 this year, is a festival and national holiday that usually occurs in January or February on the second new moon after the winter solstice, unless there is an intercalary 11th or 12th month in the lead-up to the New Year. It marks the first day of the Korean calendar.
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