Korean Holidays - Korean New Year Seollal
Residents of East Asian countries celebrate the New Year according to the lunisolar calendar
It is based on the growing season of plant development Agriculture and its cycles have been a vital part of human life for thousands of years Paying tribute to tradition, the Chinese, Koreans, Vietnamese, Thais, Japanese and other Asian peoples celebrate the New Year in late January or early February, when spring arrives The date of the holiday depends on the time of the second new moon after the winter solstice On this day, Koreans celebrate Seollal, which means “Korean New Year”
The Seollal celebration lasts 3 days The celebration is held in the family circle in an atmosphere of deep reverence for children, parents and deceased relatives During the New Year it is not customary to work and fuss Sollal encourages you to think, analyze your life and try to achieve inner balance
In honor of the new year, Koreans prepare ritual dishes (tteokguk rice soup, jeon pancakes, japchae noodles) and commemorate the departed by placing treats on the chesa (home altar) The main entertainment throughout the holiday for adults and children is flying kites, competitions in cheginkhach (a type of football), and the ancient game of yunnori Its chips in the form of farm animals are still used by Korean farmers to tell fortunes, predicting who will be able to raise livestock the fastest
Residents of Seoul gather to celebrate the New Year in the city's central square At midnight, the mayor rings the bell, the sound of which, according to ancient Korean beliefs, drives away troubles and illnesses For the same purpose, images of animals from the Chinese zodiac horoscope are placed on the doors of houses It is believed that this is how they protect homeowners from adversity
The main color of Seollal is considered to be red, which scares away evil spirits and protects against dark forces In East Asia, there is a custom of both respect for elders and reverence for children In honor of Sollal, relatives give them money in red envelopes and give them an instructive speech with an educational accent To mutually congratulate each other on the New Year, parents and children wear traditional Korean clothing - hanbok
The tables set for Seollal amaze with their abundance In honor of the celebrations, not only the ritual soup tteokguk is prepared, but also vegetable noodles, tteok pies, yakkwa honey cookies, and non-alcoholic rice drink sikhye The table may also include yakchu, raspberry, cherry or plum wine, soju liqueur, yuju from fermented mare's milk and other treats
On the first morning of the new year, Koreans traditionally go to the Sea of Japan A trip allows you to catch the first rays of the sun, inhale the scent of Aquarius, collect your thoughts and immerse yourself in thoughts about the future For Asians, the sun is a symbol of emerging life and the New Year This is partly why the name of the Seollal holiday echoes the “solar” - a horoscope built on the time of the return of the luminary to its natal position
After visiting the sea, they go on a visit to the house of the oldest relative Here it is customary to bow before the family altar and bring gifts to the souls of the departed - treating them to rice and fruits Koreans are convinced that deceased relatives, in return for veneration, will, if necessary, help in difficult everyday situations Honoring also includes bowing to senior family members In response to this, elderly relatives thank and give monetary gifts
Korean New Year is an important cultural event A family holiday that pays tribute to tradition allows all family members, young and old, to reunite, albeit briefly New Year is a time of warm hugs, sincere congratulations and gifts Therefore, both children and adults are looking forward to Seollal in Korea