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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. 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. Seollal, the Korean Lunar New Year, has a rich history deeply rooted in Korean traditions. The detailed records of Seollal customs are traced back to the Silla Dynasty . According to historical records, during the Silla period, people exchanged New Year’s greetings on the first day of the year. The Joseon dynasty, a renowned kingdom that ruled from 1392 to 1897 also has traces of government officials gathering in the five grand palaces to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Seollal is a unique Korean tradition, influenced by China, and is based on the lunar cycle. Each year represents a different animal and the cycle is repeated every 12 years. This traditional belief is very similar to how Chinese families mark the seventh day of the Chinese Lunar New Year as the day everyone grows a year older. Tteokguk, traditional rice cake soup After enjoying the meal, the younger family members will then perform a sebae, a deep New Year’s bow, and present gifts and blessings to their elders. Unlike the January 1st start-date of the Gregorian calendar, the Korean New Year is aligned with the second new moon following the winter solstice. This places the celebration typically at the end of January or the beginning of February. Current Observance Dates. In recent years, the Korean New Year has fallen between late January and mid-February. Seollal is the celebration of Korean New Year, or more specifically Korean Lunar New Year. Seollal (설날 in hangul) is one of the most important holidays in South Korea along with Chuseok, Korea’s Mid-Autumn Festival. Seollal is when Koreans celebrate the new year of the traditional Korean calendar, which is lunisolar. Seollal (설날), or Korean Lunar New Year, is a holiday filled with rich traditions and cultural significance. Celebrated on the first day of the Lunar Calendar, Seollal marks the beginning of a new year and is one of the most cherished holidays in Korea. Celebrated in both North AND South Korea, Seollal or Korean Lunar New Year is one of the country’s most significant national holidays. In the 2024 Year of the Wood Dragon, the holiday period lasts from February 9th to 12th. How is Korean New Year different from than Chinese New Year? The association with the Lunar calendar is the biggest connection the Korean New Year has to the Chinese New Year now. Both countries have their own celebrations, traditions, games, and special food to ring in the Lunar New Year. Seollal (Korean: 설날; RR: Seollal; MR: Sŏllal) is a Korean traditional festival and national holiday commemorating the first day of the lunisolar calendar. [1] It is one of the most important traditional holidays for ethnic Koreans, being celebrated in both North Korea and South Korea as well as Korean diaspora all around the world. During Chinese New Year, people have a long list of things to do. From one week preceding the festival to the 15th day after, many Chinese New Year customs are widely observed for thousands of years. The family reunion dinner, eating dumplings, and setting off firework are the must-dos that you might know. What else interesting do the Chinese do? 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. Traditionally, turning one year older on Seollal is connected to the consumption of this soup, thus reinforcing the belief that the act of eating it contributes to personal growth and prosperity in the new year. Traditional New Year’s Food: Tteokguk is recognized as the primary dish for Seollal. Families prepare and serve it to celebrate the Let's celebrate! What to cook and eat on Korean New Year's Day. Korean New Year's Day food round-up: 15+ Korean New Year Foods To Try! Korean New Year, or Seollal, is more than a celebration—it is a reflection of the values that define Korean culture: respect for family, honoring the past, and looking forward to the future. It bridges generations, bringing families together to share traditions that have been passed down for centuries. Lunar New Year marks the beginning of a new year on China's traditional lunisolar calendar. It is a time for family gatherings. It is the most important festival in China (where it is known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival), and it is also widely celebrated in South Korea (where it is known as Seollal), in Vietnam (as Tet), as well as Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and other countries Chinese and Vietnamese people will have dinner together on New Year's Eve. This is one of the most important meals of the year. Koreans will visit family and graves before and after Tet. The second similarity is the tradition of giving lucky money - celebrating the new year.
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