The United States is well known for its celebrations of the New Year on January 1st, bedazzled with silver and gold decorations, party horns, confetti, champagne, and loud music. Well, South Korean New Year is far the opposite. Most aspects of the holiday contrast with your typical American Times Square ball drop. Our traditions are filled with respect towards our elders, spreads of customary foods, and small gifts of cash to bring in good luck for the fresh year.
South Korean New Year traditions are celebrated depending on the fate of the Lunar Calendar, which changes dates annually (more on this later). It is a system that my older relatives mostly know, but I’ll teach you the gist of it. The formal name for the Korean New Year’s Day is called 설날, or “seolnal,” pronounced “seollal.” It is an old tradition that is full of wonderful and rich customs that I’ve experienced since I was a little girl.
Preparations and Traditions
Rituals
세배, pronounced “sebae,” is a bow of respect towards your older relatives, typically to your grandparents and parents. In Korean culture, it is a ritual of piety towards your family and a pivotal component at a formal New Year’s family gathering. 세뱃돈, pronounced “sebae don” -- “don” directly translating to “money” -- is a small gift of cash you receive from your older relatives after your sebae bow. Receiving it with two hands and bowing your head is a natural sign and attribute of respectful manners, but if you’ve done it all your life, it’s practically a habit. The purpose of sebae don is to provoke prosperity, good fortune, and luck for your endeavors in the new year.
Traditional Games
After younger family members wish others a Happy New Year, people gather to play games such as 윳놀이, pronounced “yutnori,” and 화투, pronounced “hwa-tu,” also known as “go-stop.”
윳놀이 is a game involving two teams and four special sticks. The sticks are curved on one side and flat on the other. Each team takes turns throwing the sticks in the air, with their landing positions determining how to progress around the board.
** Learn about the fundamentals of yutnori [2].
화투 is a game that directly translates to “flower cards.” They are used for many games, hwa-tu being the most common. Put simply, the cards “battle” against each other, trying to cancel each other out. Cards match with their families based on their patterns and strategy is needed to win.
** Learn about the origins of each family of cards and how to play hwa-tu [3].
Attire
Wearing a traditional 한복, pronounced “hanbok,” is especially formal in South Korea, but people in the United States usually visit their families in normal clothes (not jeans and a t-shirt, of course, but something to demonstrate that you put in effort to see your elders).
A 한복 is a flowy and breathable dress/suit consisting of four main components: the jacket, pants, underskirt, and the overskirt. It was designed during the times of the Goguryeo Kingdom (37 BCE - 668 CE), and its design has remained generally unchanged. The hanbok embellishes Korea’s fondness for natural beauty, as well as protection, strength, and blessings.
It can be worn for numerous occasions such as weddings, daily garments, New Year’s Day, birthdays, etc. However, for each occasion, the style can vary depending on the formality and comfort of the event. You can see the contrast between the two distinct styles based on the time period and motives of each couple:
Traditional-style hanbok set at South Korean wedding ceremonies (below)
Modern-style hanbok set at South Korean wedding ceremonies (right)
Both styles are illustriously beautiful and appreciated for their cultural significance. Another prominent attribute to hanbok are the vivid and eye-catching colors! Not only are the hues simply stunning, but they hold particular meanings, as well. Colors can correspond to the five elements of the yin-yang theory:
White - Metal/Stone
Red - Fire
Blue - Wood
Black - Water
Yellow - Earth
Not only are their colors associated with elements from nature, but they also symbolize age, marital status, and social position:
Children and girls wear bright colors
Middle aged men and women wear muted colors
Unmarried women wear yellow jackets and red skirts
Matrons wear green jackets and red skirts
Women who had sons wore navy
Upper classes wore a plethora of colors
Lower classes simply wore white and sometimes pale colors on special occasions
Other details, such as the material of the hanbok and the embroidered patterns, are also important to each individual, as the material signals social disposition, and the embroidery establishes one’s aspirations and wishes. For example, silk symbolizes high-class, while cotton suggests low-class commoners.
Embroidered wishes, hopes, and desires:
Peonies: Honor and wealth
Lotus: Nobility
Bats and pomegranates: Children and fertility
Dragons, phoenixes, cranes, and tigers: Royalty and high-class figures
Traditional family portraits often had cohesive color schemes for a unified family look. Tones of soft-hued pink and royal navy are present in the example (left).
After younger family members wish others a Happy New Year, people gather to play games such as 윳놀이, pronounced “yutnori,” and 화투, pronounced “hwa-tu,” also known as “go-stop.”
윳놀이 is a game involving two teams and four special sticks. The sticks are curved on one side and flat on the other. Each team takes turns throwing the sticks in the air, with their landing positions determining how to progress around the board.
** Learn about the fundamentals of yutnori [2].
화투 is a game that directly translates to “flower cards.” They are used for many games, hwa-tu being the most common. Put simply, the cards “battle” against each other, trying to cancel each other out. Cards match with their families based on their patterns and strategy is needed to win.
** Learn about the origins of each family of cards and how to play hwa-tu [3].
Attire
Wearing a traditional 한복, pronounced “hanbok,” is especially formal in South Korea, but people in the United States usually visit their families in normal clothes (not jeans and a t-shirt, of course, but something to demonstrate that you put in effort to see your elders).
It can be worn for numerous occasions such as weddings, daily garments, New Year’s Day, birthdays, etc. However, for each occasion, the style can vary depending on the formality and comfort of the event. You can see the contrast between the two distinct styles based on the time period and motives of each couple:
Traditional-style hanbok set at South Korean wedding ceremonies (below)
Modern-style hanbok set at South Korean wedding ceremonies (right)
Both styles are illustriously beautiful and appreciated for their cultural significance. Another prominent attribute to hanbok are the vivid and eye-catching colors! Not only are the hues simply stunning, but they hold particular meanings, as well. Colors can correspond to the five elements of the yin-yang theory:
Red - Fire
Blue - Wood
Black - Water
Yellow - Earth
Not only are their colors associated with elements from nature, but they also symbolize age, marital status, and social position:
Children and girls wear bright colors
Middle aged men and women wear muted colors
Unmarried women wear yellow jackets and red skirts
Matrons wear green jackets and red skirts
Women who had sons wore navy
Upper classes wore a plethora of colors
Lower classes simply wore white and sometimes pale colors on special occasions
Other details, such as the material of the hanbok and the embroidered patterns, are also important to each individual, as the material signals social disposition, and the embroidery establishes one’s aspirations and wishes. For example, silk symbolizes high-class, while cotton suggests low-class commoners.
Embroidered wishes, hopes, and desires:
Peonies: Honor and wealth
Lotus: Nobility
Bats and pomegranates: Children and fertility
Dragons, phoenixes, cranes, and tigers: Royalty and high-class figures
Lunar Calendar
Fun fact: The Lunar Calendar system works the same between Korea and China! Both countries' versions of the holiday usually fall on the same day, this year’s being on February 12, 2021.
The Lunar Calendar is based on the different phases of the moon and the time they are set in throughout the years. This evidently leads to every celebration falling on a different day annually. There are many stories, folktales, and myths on how the system came to be or what different people see on the moon -- my grandma probably knows them all.
One interesting lunar legend is from Serbia! Why is it common for people to say that the moon is made of cheese? Well, people in Serbia have the legend of a wolf chasing a fox. The fox convinces the wolf that a better snack, a block of cheese, lies at the bottom of a pond, where the fox is stuck. Not realizing the cheese is just the moon’s reflection, the wolf naively drinks and drinks from the pond and eventually bursts, freeing the fox. Regardless of which stories you follow, many owe their true origins to the Lunar Calendar.
Food
Before you get into main dishes and desserts, spreads of various offerings such as fruit and fish are presented in front of your family ancestry poster. What is the significance of the poster, you may ask? It holds a list of your ancestors’ and deceased relatives’ names you want to pay homage to and commemorate for the new year. The names are traditionally written vertically, as Korean text and ancient manuscripts were originally formatted that way. The example shown is in Chinese, but Koreans write the same way, just in a different language. Although Chinese New Year and South Korean New Year fall on the same day (usually), have small cash gifts for luck, and write text the same way, there are major differences regarding the historical traditions of each holiday. (Check out our series on the Helix blog!) Now onto the main courses!
떡국 (tteokguk) - Rice cake soup
떡국 is the South Korean New Year's main dish. Whenever people hear of the soup, their minds instantly attribute it to this holiday.
--> Filling meal, chewy rice cakes, savory soup, warming overall, fairly simple but so delicious
--> Add cuts of pulled beef, scallions, dried seaweed, sliced egg omelette to spice up the meal!
Fun fact: The shape of the rice cake in the soup resembles old-style Korean coins, so they are symbolic of riches and prosperity!
강정 (gangjeong) - Sweet rice puffs
강정, if I were to describe it, would be a “delicious packing peanut” that is a snack/dessert. You’d have to try it to understand what I’m talking about but my folks who know, know what’s up. They can come in a variety of colors like pink, black, and green, but the original is usually white. They all taste the same, like M&Ms do.
The Lunar Calendar is based on the different phases of the moon and the time they are set in throughout the years. This evidently leads to every celebration falling on a different day annually. There are many stories, folktales, and myths on how the system came to be or what different people see on the moon -- my grandma probably knows them all. One interesting lunar legend is from Serbia! Why is it common for people to say that the moon is made of cheese? Well, people in Serbia have the legend of a wolf chasing a fox. The fox convinces the wolf that a better snack, a block of cheese, lies at the bottom of a pond, where the fox is stuck. Not realizing the cheese is just the moon’s reflection, the wolf naively drinks and drinks from the pond and eventually bursts, freeing the fox. Regardless of which stories you follow, many owe their true origins to the Lunar Calendar.
Food
Before you get into main dishes and desserts, spreads of various offerings such as fruit and fish are presented in front of your family ancestry poster. What is the significance of the poster, you may ask? It holds a list of your ancestors’ and deceased relatives’ names you want to pay homage to and commemorate for the new year. The names are traditionally written vertically, as Korean text and ancient manuscripts were originally formatted that way. The example shown is in Chinese, but Koreans write the same way, just in a different language. Although Chinese New Year and South Korean New Year fall on the same day (usually), have small cash gifts for luck, and write text the same way, there are major differences regarding the historical traditions of each holiday. (Check out our series on the Helix blog!) Now onto the main courses!
떡국 (tteokguk) - Rice cake soup
떡국 is the South Korean New Year's main dish. Whenever people hear of the soup, their minds instantly attribute it to this holiday.
--> Filling meal, chewy rice cakes, savory soup, warming overall, fairly simple but so delicious
--> Add cuts of pulled beef, scallions, dried seaweed, sliced egg omelette to spice up the meal!
Fun fact: The shape of the rice cake in the soup resembles old-style Korean coins, so they are symbolic of riches and prosperity!
강정 (gangjeong) - Sweet rice puffs
강정, if I were to describe it, would be a “delicious packing peanut” that is a snack/dessert. You’d have to try it to understand what I’m talking about but my folks who know, know what’s up. They can come in a variety of colors like pink, black, and green, but the original is usually white. They all taste the same, like M&Ms do.잡채 (japchae) - Glass noodle stir fry
잡채 has such beautiful noodles. They’re clear, long, and coated in sesame oil. It is extremely flavorful, bright, clean, and healthy as a side dish/appetizer.
--> Add carrots, bell peppers, sesame seeds to enhance the simplicity of the dish--> Delightful. Irresistible.
갈비찜 (galbi jjim) - Braised short ribs stew
갈비찜 is incredibly tender and soft if you add pineapple juice, a full Korean pear, or a full apple as a tenderizer to help break down the protein using the enzymes. It is a side dish/appetizer that you’ll find yourself continuously reaching for while enjoying your 떡국.
--> Add potatoes and carrots to enjoy over rice with the sweet juices from the fruit you added that makes the stew so delicious
--> Another highly addictive dish you keep wanting to have
약과 (yakgwa) - Cookie-shaped honey confection
“Yak” = “medicinal” and “Awa” = “confection/sweet.” Put it together and you get 약과, a sweet, deep fried, honey/brown sugar flavored confection/sweet. It’s considered somewhat medicinal due to the honey content in it, which is a highly important ingredient to traditional Korean medicine.
--> My mom is obsessed with all types of honey, prioritizing manuka honey for her health and natural clover honey for her tea
--> Yakgwa is something I’ve had with my family ever since I was young
--> Little kids tend to enjoy the sweets of the celebrations more, so I have fond memories eating it and bringing in the new year
Author’s Note
As a 15-year-old Korean American living on the East Coast, celebrating a traditional South Korean New Year’s can feel a bit out of place when I start to miss my family back home in Seoul and Daegu. Growing up, I attended Korean church services where my community would respect our deceased relatives; I called my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins wishing them good luck in the New Year; I visited my mom’s family in upper New York every January 1st. These experiences were all I had with this holiday that is so near and dear to my heart. Every year, a large part of me always wishes I was with my grandparents in South Korea, able to do my sebae bow with my parents and enjoy a meal together. The last time I visited was when I was 9 years old. I am now almost 16 years old. Discouragingly, the Covid-19 pandemic has greatly limited and cost us our chances to see our families. 2021 was the first year of my life that I can remember not going to visit my mom’s cousins, which devastated me. The sad, socially distanced ball drop in Times Square just went to show how depressing 2020 ended up being. However, regardless of our current global situation, I decided to appreciate the family I have on the coast and miss the rest of my family that lives in two different time zones across the world.
I’ve eaten and/or experienced every single one of these festivities and traditions personally and recently. I used online reinforcement to back up my knowledge on the origins of the holiday, but most of this information came from my parents, so credits to them <3
These traditions are what keep us grounded as Korean-Americans because they remind us of our identities, roots, and where our parents came from. Be proud of your family’s heritage. Celebrate them, love them, and cherish them when you can. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to have shared my culture with you, and I wish you a Happy Korean New Year for all the best in 2021. 새해 복 많이 받으세요!
Sources
“Lunar Legends: A Trail of Myths and Stories from around the World.” Hindustan Times, 12 July 2019, www.hindustantimes.com/art-and-culture/lunar-legends-a-trail-of-myths-and-stories-from-around-the-world/story-kwMclxPg6Lsmbbjm0j3zAO.html.
(씨웍스코리아) C-Works Korea. “Yut-Nori (윳놀이) - Korean Traditional GameAbout Korea.” TRYKOREA, http://en.trykorea.com/article/about-korea/8/74/
Hwatuplayer, and Instructables. “How to Play Go-Stop.” Instructables, Instructables, 21 Nov. 2017, www.instructables.com/How-to-Play-Go-Stop/.
Korean, 90 Day. “Korean Lunar New Year in Korea.” 90 Day Korean®, 90 Day Korean®, 29 June 2020, www.90daykorean.com/korean-lunar-new-year/.
Ladner, Mimsie. “Hanbok: An Introduction to South Korea's National Dress.” Culture Trip, The Culture Trip, 25 Jan. 2017, https://theculturetrip.com/asia/south-korea/articles/hanbok-an-introduction-to-south-koreas-national-dress/
Sue, et al. “12 Korean New Year Foods You Should Try.” My Korean Kitchen, 6 Feb. 2021, https://mykoreankitchen.com/korean-new-years-day-food/
Imatome-Yun, Naomi. “Bake Your Own Yakgwa: Korean Honey and Ginger Cookies.” The Spruce Eats, www.thespruceeats.com/korean-honey-cookies-2118617.
국립민속박물관 . “Sweet Rice Puffs.” Encyclopedia of Korean Folk Culture, https://folkency.nfm.go.kr/en/topic/detail/3157
Author’s Note
As a 15-year-old Korean American living on the East Coast, celebrating a traditional South Korean New Year’s can feel a bit out of place when I start to miss my family back home in Seoul and Daegu. Growing up, I attended Korean church services where my community would respect our deceased relatives; I called my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins wishing them good luck in the New Year; I visited my mom’s family in upper New York every January 1st. These experiences were all I had with this holiday that is so near and dear to my heart. Every year, a large part of me always wishes I was with my grandparents in South Korea, able to do my sebae bow with my parents and enjoy a meal together. The last time I visited was when I was 9 years old. I am now almost 16 years old. Discouragingly, the Covid-19 pandemic has greatly limited and cost us our chances to see our families. 2021 was the first year of my life that I can remember not going to visit my mom’s cousins, which devastated me. The sad, socially distanced ball drop in Times Square just went to show how depressing 2020 ended up being. However, regardless of our current global situation, I decided to appreciate the family I have on the coast and miss the rest of my family that lives in two different time zones across the world.
I’ve eaten and/or experienced every single one of these festivities and traditions personally and recently. I used online reinforcement to back up my knowledge on the origins of the holiday, but most of this information came from my parents, so credits to them <3
These traditions are what keep us grounded as Korean-Americans because they remind us of our identities, roots, and where our parents came from. Be proud of your family’s heritage. Celebrate them, love them, and cherish them when you can. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to have shared my culture with you, and I wish you a Happy Korean New Year for all the best in 2021. 새해 복 많이 받으세요!
Sources
“Lunar Legends: A Trail of Myths and Stories from around the World.” Hindustan Times, 12 July 2019, www.hindustantimes.com/art-and-culture/lunar-legends-a-trail-of-myths-and-stories-from-around-the-world/story-kwMclxPg6Lsmbbjm0j3zAO.html.
(씨웍스코리아) C-Works Korea. “Yut-Nori (윳놀이) - Korean Traditional GameAbout Korea.” TRYKOREA, http://en.trykorea.com/article/about-korea/8/74/
Hwatuplayer, and Instructables. “How to Play Go-Stop.” Instructables, Instructables, 21 Nov. 2017, www.instructables.com/How-to-Play-Go-Stop/.
Korean, 90 Day. “Korean Lunar New Year in Korea.” 90 Day Korean®, 90 Day Korean®, 29 June 2020, www.90daykorean.com/korean-lunar-new-year/.
Ladner, Mimsie. “Hanbok: An Introduction to South Korea's National Dress.” Culture Trip, The Culture Trip, 25 Jan. 2017, https://theculturetrip.com/asia/south-korea/articles/hanbok-an-introduction-to-south-koreas-national-dress/
Sue, et al. “12 Korean New Year Foods You Should Try.” My Korean Kitchen, 6 Feb. 2021, https://mykoreankitchen.com/korean-new-years-day-food/
Imatome-Yun, Naomi. “Bake Your Own Yakgwa: Korean Honey and Ginger Cookies.” The Spruce Eats, www.thespruceeats.com/korean-honey-cookies-2118617.
국립민속박물관 . “Sweet Rice Puffs.” Encyclopedia of Korean Folk Culture, https://folkency.nfm.go.kr/en/topic/detail/3157