Seollal, Koreans’ favorite holiday, is just around the corner. During Seollal (Lunar New Year’s Day), most people go back to their hometowns to perform ceremonial rites and paying their respect to their ancestors.
Before Seollal
Seollal is one of the best holiday seasons for department stores and markets. Most people shop for gifts to give to their parents and friends. Meat, fish, fruit, Korean traditional snack “Hangwa” tteokguk (rice cake soup), and various types of wild vegetables are popular items because they are required as part of the ancestral rights. The food prepared for this rite must have nice shapes and colours, and they must be fresh.
People in Korea will be busy traveling to their hometowns during Seollal – so train tickets must be reserved in advanced.
Seollal Day
On the morning of Seollal, people get up early to wash and put on their ‘Seolbim’ (new clothes prepared for Seollal). Many people wear Hanboks. Then the families gather to perform ancestral rights, paying their respects by offering them food. After the rites have been performed, everyone shares the holiday food together. According to tradition, eating tteokguk (rice cake soup) on Seollal adds one year to your age. After finishing their meal, the younger generations pay their respects to the elders of the family by bowing to them.
Children especially like Seollal because they can receive money as a New Year’s gift.
Lately, an increasing number of Christian families are choosing not to perform the ancestral rites due to their religious beliefs. Instead, their family members gather to share food and stories, and spend quality family time during Seollal.
After performing the traditional Seollal activities as one’s husband’s parents’ home, families go to the wife’s parents’ home afterwards.
For an more information on Seollal, visit here
Source: Kpopped + Korea.net
Credits: KPOP JJANG
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