The year 2023 will bring a great celebration in Korea, as January 22 marks the start of Korean New Year. This festive occasion is an important part of Korean culture, as it signifies the beginning of a new year with fresh hopes and opportunities. Korean New Year is celebrated in much the same way as traditional Chinese New Year. In addition to decorations, parties, and gifts, it also includes several ceremonies that are meant to bring luck and prosperity for the upcoming year. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular customs for celebrating Korean New Year so you can join in on this joyous occasion.
What is Korean New Year?
Korean New Year, also known as Seollal, is one of the most important holidays in Korea. It is a time for family reunion and celebration. Korean New Year typically falls on the first day of the lunar calendar.
This year, Korean New Year will be celebrated on January 22. On this day, families will gather together and enjoy a feast of traditional Korean food. They will also exchange gifts and perform ancestral rites.
Korean New Year is an important time for Koreans to reflect on the past year and set goals for the new one. It is a time of hope and renewal. We wish all our readers a happy and prosperous Korean New Year!
The History of Korean New Year
Korean New Year is celebrated on the first day of the lunar calendar. It is a time for family reunion, and many Koreans return to their hometowns to celebrate with their relatives. Korean New Year’s Eve is called seh-bae, and families gather together to eat rice cakes (tteokguk) and watch traditional Korean folk performances.
On New Year’s Day, children receive money from their elders in red envelopes (hongpoom), and everyone wears new clothes (seolbim). Families visit each other’s homes to exchange greetings and gifts, and often play folk games such as yunnori (a traditional board game) or ssireum (a type of wrestling).
The history of Korean New Year can be traced back to ancient times. According to legend, the holiday was started by the mythical king Tangun, who founded the first Korean kingdom of Gojoseon in 2333 BCE. However, it was not until 108 BCE that the first official record of New Year’s celebrations appears in Chinese texts.
During the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), New Year’s Day was known as ‘gungnyeollal’, and was a time when people would offer sacrifices to their ancestors and gods. The Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) saw the introduction of many new customs, such as the playing of traditional games, gift-giving, and the eating of special foods
How is Korean New Year Celebrated?
Korean New Year is celebrated on the first day of the lunar calendar. It is a time for family reunion and celebration. On this day, Koreans dress in their traditional hanbok clothes and visit their families and relatives. They also prepare special food such as rice cakes and tteokguk (rice cake soup). A big part of the celebration is the performing of ancestral rites.
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Conclusion
Korean New Year is a joyous and festive celebration for the entire family. It is filled with traditional dishes, ceremonies, and activities that make it one of Korea’s most beloved holidays. We hope this article has helped you understand the significance of Korean New Year as well as what to expect when celebrating on January 22nd, 2023 in Korea. So gather your friends and family members and get ready to celebrate this special day!
KOREAN NEW YEAR DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | February 1 | Tuesday |
| 2023 | January 22 | Sunday |
| 2024 | February 10 | Saturday |
| 2025 | January 29 | Wednesday |
