What is all this talk about Lunar New Year?

Seolnal (Lunar New Year) is the first of 2 major Korean holidays, typically falling on the second new moon after the winter solstice. (The second is Chusok in the Fall.) Seolnal is another important ancestral holiday in which the living celebrate their ancestry. Families fress in traiditonal Korean dress called "hanbok" and get together for traditional meals, food offerings, and family time including traditional holiday games, such as kite flying and a stick game called yuk.

"They kneel and bow to their ancestors and elders. Family members wish each other prosperity and good fortune. Then they exchange gifts. Children receive lucky money, candy and fruit from the elders. The family spends time together and have rice-cake soup for breakfast. Children often take this day to play special New Year games.


In parts of Korea, people usher in the New Year with a ritual called Jishin Balpgi. Loud drums and gongs are played to scare off evil spirits of the old year. At the end of the day, friends and relatives join together for dinner to renew their friendship. Sol is a celebration of family and good friends. And for the Koreans, the New Year is about family and community." (http://www.familyculture.com/holidays/korean_new_year.htm)

In Korea, most places are closed on Lunar New Year and the traffic is typically terrible. It is generally advisable to plan a nice quiet day with the family at home and avoid driving with a large portion of the Korean population. Perhaps you can even play some of the traditional Korean New Year games or try some of the food that is eaten.

To learn more, check out these links:

• Life in Korea
• Click Asia
• Korean New Year Blog

say hay boke-mahn he pah du say oh

(Many New Year's Blessings to You!)