![]() ![]() New year greeting “새해 복 많이 받으세요” (saehae bok mani badeuseyo) which means “Have lots of luck in the new year.”.Note: children can expect an envelope of cash ‘sebaet don’ in return! Performing the 세배 (sebae) bow to elders as the Seollal greeting.Celebration hosted at the elder’s house in the hometown – with the younger generations expected to visit the hometown and pay respects to the elders during this time.In modern Korea, there is a large variation in how traditional each family celebration ends up being – but it is handy to have an idea of this tradition spectrum when engaging with Korean colleagues and friends – or if you end up married to a Korean partner!Įxhibition featuring traditional children’s hanbok 한복/ photo taken by author. In Korea, the Seollal celebration is usually held at the house of the eldest relative (for instance, a grandparent) and tends to be organized by the eldest son of that family branch. Korea tip: For those based in Seoul and looking to do some travel, exploring destinations reachable by public subway/ local train (such as Incheon, Gapyeong) or within 1-hour drive/ bus ride (such as Suwon, Gongju, or Icheon) are great day-trips to consider! Both countries experience a large exodus of people travelling away from the big cities to their hometowns – so if you are planning to travel during this period it is essential to book train tickets in advance, avoid buses (given that traffic congestion can add several hours to your planned trip) and be ready for the crowds. In both Korea and China, family reunion lies at the heart of the Lunar New Year celebration. Nevertheless, while the streets might be missing festive red lanterns, you can spot the zodiac animal of the year (with the Rabbit taking over from the Tiger in 2023) throughout the city – popping up in public parks, cafes, or posters.Ĭurious about the role that the 12-year zodiac plays in contemporary Korean society? Check out this link to learn more about the tradition and how it fits with other trends like MBTI personality tests. In Korea, Lunar New Year known as 설날 “Seollal” comes with a more modest 2-3 days of public holidays (in 2023 this fell on the weekend and two weekdays between January 21-24) and is characterized as being a family celebration. Similar to Christmas celebrations in the West, Chinese New Year sees cities decorated with red lanterns, shop-fronts stocked with red clothes and accessories, bustling holiday markets, family reunions with special festive dishes, and red envelopes with money gifted between colleagues, friends and family members.Ĭhinese New Year market in Beijing/ photo taken by author.Ĭoming from Beijing to Seoul, it was surprising to discover that Lunar New Year, while also being one of Korea’s most important traditional holidays, did not have the same boisterous festive community feeling as in China. Whether you’ve experienced Chinese New Year abroad or in China – the bustling festivities are characterized by the colour red (symbolizing luck in Chinese culture). Read more about each Chinese Lunar New Year day and associated traditions here. Steeped in centuries of tradition, there are set activities associated with each day of the holiday – which culminates with the lantern festival (元宵节 Yuan Xiao Festival, also known as Chinese Valentine’s Day) on the 15th and final day (February 5 in 2023). In 2023, this covered the public holiday period between January 21 – January 27. The annual festival lasts for 15 days, beginning with the new moon that occurs sometime between January 21 and February 20 according to Western calendars. In China (and in Chinese diaspora communities around Asia and the globe) the celebration is known as the “Spring Festival” or 春节 Chūnjié. What is Lunar New Year?įollowing the lunar calendar, Lunar New Year is celebrated in different parts of Asia, each with its unique set of traditions and names for the holiday. Note: While in this blog we will focus on exploring how the holiday is celebrated in China and Korea, there is also a wealth of traditions to discover throughout Asia – including the Tết Lunar New Year in Vietnam. As we welcome the Year of the Rabbit (兔年 in Chinese and계묘년 in Korean), this blog looks at how the holiday is celebrated in these two East Asian nations to provide insights for those living or working in the region. Growing up in Australia’s metropolitan cities like Sydney and Melbourne, there is a high likelihood that you’ve come across Lunar New Year celebrations hosted at your local suburb or Chinatown.
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