Happy New Year! Yes, today is Lunar New Year’s day. For those not familiar with Asian cultures, maybe not a holiday that is top of your mind. So let me quickly explain the basics of Lunar New year, with a focus on its context in Korea.
What is Lunar New Year?
Lunar New Year is sometimes also referred to as Spring Festival or Chinese New Year. It is the most important holiday in China and some other Asian countries. However, it does not necessarily all refer to the same day or celebration.
In all instances the holiday refers to a New Year based on the lunar calendar (purely taking into account the moon) or lunisolar calendar (taking into account the moon and sun). The most popular lunar and lunisolar calendars are the Chinese, Tibetan, Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish and Nisga’a calendar. And the celebration is about a new cycle after a certain event.
When is Lunar New Year?
Although not all celebrations fall on the same date, the Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean Lunar New Year celebrations usually fall (almost) at the same moment. In the case of Korea, that is the first day of the second new moon after the winter solstice (shortest day). This is usually at the end of January or beginning of February. In 2024 Lunar New Year (eve) falls on February 9th.
The celebrations and its duration can vary depending on which country you celebrate in. This can cover ‘New Years Eve’, the eve before the new moon, and ‘New Years Day’, the first day after the new moon, but can also last up to 15 days, until the first full moon.
How is Lunar New Year Celebrated?
Wherever you celebrate Lunar New Year, festivities will cover about the same thing: community carnivals, family gatherings, parades, traditional food, fireworks and other festivities. You will probably also see red decorations and referrals to the New Year’s Chinese Zodiac animal.
Chinese Zodiac animal
Every new year is connected to an animal, based on the Chinese zodiac animals. In total there are 12 animals – rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. There are several versions of the legend behind this. For example, a god inviting all animals for his departure from earth and only 12 animals showing up.
Or a more detailed legend explaining a race where, because the animals were supposed to indicate time, a race was proposed (by in some versions Buddha, in other versions the Jade Emperor). The order of the years follows the outcome of this race.
Instead of a 12-year cycle, like you would expect with 12 animals, there is actually a 60-year cycle. The animals come back every 12 years, but the principles of yin and yang and the five elements are also added to create 60 variations in total. A combination of the three form the full ‘zodiac sign’ and tell you about someone’s personality, career, love prospects and future good (or bad) fortune according to the belief.
The legend of Nian
Another well-known legend connected to Lunar New Year is the legend of Nian. According to the legend this was a hideous monster that feasted on human flesh on New Year’s Day. The beast feared the color red, loud noises and fire. To frighten and chase away the monster on Lunar New Year people still decorate with red paper dragons on their doors, burn red lanterns and set off firecrackers.
Connected to this legend the color red in Asian cultures is the symbol for good fortune and joy and is therefore used throughout the New Year’s celebrations. People dress up in red, decorate with red paper lanterns and use red envelopes to give money to loved ones.
Korean New Year: Seollal
In Korea the Lunar New Year is called: Seollal. In Korea this is most commonly a 3-day family holiday, consisting of the ‘day before’, ‘day of’ and ‘day after’.
Rituals
The first day mostly revolves around the Charye ritual, where traditional food is prepared, served and gifted to ancestors by placing them on a table.
Bowing to your elders is a big part of the Korean Seollal tradition, called Sebae, stemming from Korean confucian traditions. You wish elders good fortune in the new year with this by bowing so deep your hands touch the floor out of respect. Usually Sebaetdon (Sebae money) is gifted by the elders after performing the bow.
Wearing a traditional, colorful Korean Hanbok (or Chosŏn-ot in North Korea), usually worn for special occasions like weddings is also customary, although this has declined in past years.
Food & games
After the several rituals, a festive meal is enjoyed with the family. The food traditionally eaten during Seollal is tteokguk, a broth soup with thinly sliced rice cakes. Also traditional Korean games are popular, not only as a way to pass the time, but also to pass on vulture heritage. Traditional games are, for example, 윷놀이 (yunnori) where sticks are thrown in a board game, 널뛰기 (neolttwigi) / seesaw jumping,투호 (tuho) / arrow throwing and 화투 (hwatu) / card games.
Tourists
If you are a foreigner in South Korea the most authentic way to celebrate Seollal would be to get invited to someone’s family celebrations. Beware that a lot of places close down during the holidays due to family gatherings and Koreans traveling to their hometowns. This also means busy roads, so keep that in mind!
In terms of tourist attractions, you could take advantage by going to an amusement park as this is a place that will be less crowded during Seollal or by going to a traditional palace as there are usually shows in celebration of the holiday.
Greetings
Lastly, if you want to wish someone a “Happy Korean New Year” you can say: 새해 복 많이 받으세요 (saehae bok mani badeuseyo), which means “Receive lots of luck or blessings in the New Year.”
Lieve Anne, Heel leerzaam jou uitleg van alles wat je meemaakt. Geweldig dat je dat allemaal doet en ook tijd voor maakt.
Ook ik wens jou een” 새해 복 많이 받으세요 “ ik wens ook jou zelf veel geluk en zegeningen in het nieuwe Koreaanse jaar.”
Veel liefs….en GENIET ervan . XXX