New Year’s celebrations differ all through the world. Some have a good time the new year on January 1. Others happen later within the month—like Chinese New Year and Korean New 12 months. However what’s Korean New 12 months, precisely?
Korea (a phrase that means “Land of Excessive Mountains and Glowing Streams”) is located on a peninsula within the Pacific Ocean, and types an almost full land bridge between Chinese language Manchuria and Japan. Along with the mainland, Korea contains greater than three thousand smaller islands. Its historical past is as wealthy and various as its geography, its tradition, and its individuals. Since 1945, it has been divided into two international locations, North and South Korea.
South Korea, particularly, gives customers around the globe with oil, cars, smartphones and different know-how. It’s house to widespread Okay-pop teams, like BTS and Blackpink. Korea’s gifts to worldwide delicacies embody Kimchi, ramen noodles, barbecue and Soju (distilled rice liquor).
Culturally, they’re identified for being family-oriented and are very happy with their nation. And on the day of Seollal, or Korean New 12 months, Koreans around the globe collect collectively to have a good time their heritage.
What’s Korean New 12 months?
Koreans will have a good time Seollal, a vacation lasting three days (together with the day earlier than and the day after their New 12 months’s Day) this winter. It’s a festive event when Koreans take time to recollect their heritage. If potential, they return to their hometowns to go to their dad and mom and different relations. With over seven million Koreans living abroad, journey to their mom nation is probably not potential, however there are nonetheless loads of methods to have a good time this vacation. Each South Korea and North Korea observe this vacation.
Sooner or later through the celebration, women and men, usually donning conventional gown bought only for the event, bow to their elders, a form of bowing referred to as sebae. Whereas bowing, they are saying “Sae hae mahnee badeuseyo,” which implies: “Please obtain many new 12 months blessings.” In return, elders may give some money to younger bowers, which is positioned in a pouch known as bok jumoni.
One meals staple at Seollal is tteokguk (rice cake soup). There was a time tteokguk was solely served yearly, for this vacation, because it was believed that by consuming it, you grow to be a 12 months older. The jesa desk (a excessive eating desk used for ceremonial functions) may also embody an assortment of jeon-fried, savory pancakes crammed with greens, meats or seafood. Different menu items embody mung bean pancakes, Korean BBQ, kimchi dumplings, Korean dumpling soup, glass noodle stir fry and candy rice bars.
Members additionally play yut nori (usually shortened to “yoot”), a recreation that’s been round for hundreds of years. It’s made up of 4 picket sticks and a board, the place every participant throws sticks within the air and advances relying on how they land. It’s similar to the board recreation, “Sorry.” This is perhaps the one time of the 12 months a household performs this explicit recreation.
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When is Korean New 12 months?
Korean New 12 months happens someday in January or February, relying on the 12 months. In 2023, it is going to be celebrated on January 22—though the celebrations additionally embody January 21 and January 23.
How lengthy is the Korean New 12 months Celebration?
Korean New 12 months celebrations normally final three days.
Is January 1 a New 12 months in Korea?
Along with their observance of the Korean New 12 months, many Koreans additionally observe the Western New 12 months, based mostly on our Gregorian calendar) on January 1.
What number of New 12 months celebrations does Korea observe?
Whereas South Korea might also have a good time the Western New 12 months, there’s another New 12 months celebration noticed in North Korea.
In North Korea, they’ve a 3rd New 12 months’s celebration, based mostly on the Juche ideology, and its calendar. The Juche calendar begins with the birthday of North Korea’s founder, Kim II-sung.
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Why do Koreans have a good time Lunar New 12 months?
Technically, Koreans have a good time their new 12 months based mostly on the lunisolar calendar, monitoring each the moon and the solar. Relying on the solar’s place, and the phases of the moon, days and even months can differ. This calendar system was developed by agrarian societies, and continues for use in sure international locations right this moment. Though Koreans primarily use the Gregorian calendar (like these within the West) right this moment, they make the most of this historic calendar to find out the date of nationwide holidays.
Is Korean New 12 months the identical as Chinese language New 12 months?
The 2 holidays should not the identical, though they usually happen on the similar time.
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