Seol or Seolnal is one of the most important holidays in Korea. During this time of the year, families and relatives gather together and give respect to the ancestors and traditional food is eaten. Korea follows the lunar calendar, which follows the phases of moon. Koreans began marking the western solar New Year including the traditional Lunar New Year but we Koreans only celebrate the traditional holiday, which is on February 13-15 in year 2010. As this time of year is special, most Koreans tend to go to their hometowns, making a traffic jam on the high pass roads. The major cities, including Seoul, gets emptied out and there is a sudden boom in the rural areas for the 3 days holiday. To avoid any traffic jams during these days, it is best to take the trains, such as KTX. Many Korean families perform ancestral ceremony on Lunar New Year’s day. The ceremony includes bowing to a shrine and sacrificial food is placed on the table displayed right in front of the shrine because this food is believed that the ancestors come down to enjoy the feast laid, therefore, after the ancestors had eaten, family can eat. There is another traditional ceremony that needs to be performed but now it is for the elders in the family. It is usually for grandparents and parents, including uncles, aunts etc. The children in each family member give a deep bow to the elders and wish them a happy new year. In return, they get a token of small gift, usually money.
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As a delicious food known, Tteokguk, known as the rice cake soup, must be eaten because it is believed that if you eat a bowl of it you can grow a year older and New Year is all about getting a year older. The slices of rice cakes that has a oval shape symbolizes coins/wealth.
Tteokguk
Foreigners might feel a little bit isolated because most lack family connection in Korea but not to worry, there is plenty of things to do here in Korea to enjoy and learn about the Korean culture. Foreign visitors can visit Seoul’s royal palaces to try traditional games such as yutnori. In Namsangol Hanok Village on Mt. Namsan and Seoul palaces, they have programs and events provided for everyone.
yutnori
Did you ever heard of Daeboreum? On the February 28 2010, it is Daeboreum, which is a day when people celebrate the first full moon of the lunar year. When you look at the sky on this day, you will be able to see a full moon shining up on the dark night. Watching the moon is a popular activity where people wait in the dark at the top of a mountain or a hill to see the moon come up on the sky. During this time of night, it is great to play jwibulnori, which is a traditional game of swirling around a hot briquette in a can while the rice straw in the field is set alight. The purpose of playing this game is to shoo away rats and other pests that can destroy the crops that will grow for the food for upcoming year. It is a way of asking a great year for farming and having plentiful food for the year. Special Daeboreum performances will be held at National Theatre of Korea and National center for Korean traditional performing arts.
jwibulnori
Daeboreum
The Faces of Korea 