Korean Lifestyle in 12 Episodes | Episode 10: Holidays and Festivities – From Lunar New Year to Chuseok

Why Holidays Matter in Korea

In Korea, holidays are not just days off work; they are moments of cultural continuity, family gathering, and social identity. They provide a rhythm to the year, anchoring people in traditions while also adapting to modern lifestyles. Among the many holidays, Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (Harvest Festival) stand out as the most important.

Seollal: Lunar New Year

Seollal, usually celebrated in January or February, marks the beginning of the lunar calendar.

  • Family Reunions: Families gather in ancestral homes, often traveling long distances across the country.

  • Rituals and Respect: Charye (ancestral rites) are performed to honor ancestors, followed by bows of respect (sebae) to elders.

  • Traditional Food: Tteokguk (rice cake soup) is eaten, symbolizing good fortune and the passing into a new year of age.

  • Games and Dress: Traditional games like yutnori are played, and some wear hanbok for the occasion.

The Social Meaning of Seollal

Seollal emphasizes family bonds, respect for elders, and renewal of life cycles.

Chuseok: Harvest Festival

Chuseok, celebrated in September or October, is Korea’s version of Thanksgiving.

  • Gratitude for Harvest: Families return to hometowns to honor ancestors and celebrate the harvest.

  • Charye and Gravesite Visits: Families pay respects at ancestral graves, maintaining a strong link to heritage.

  • Feasting: Special foods like songpyeon (half-moon rice cakes) and freshly harvested fruits are central to the celebration.

  • Cultural Activities: Folk dances, traditional wrestling (ssireum), and holiday markets fill towns with festivity.

The Social Meaning of Chuseok

Chuseok reflects gratitude, continuity, and family-centered values, reinforcing the connection between nature’s cycles and human life.

Other Holidays and Festivities

Beyond Seollal and Chuseok, Korea celebrates many holidays that blend tradition with modern culture.

  • Children’s Day (May 5): A national holiday celebrating youth, filled with gifts, outings, and family trips.

  • Buddha’s Birthday: Lantern festivals light up temples and city streets.

  • Christmas and New Year’s Eve: Though not traditionally Korean, these have become popular, blending Western influence with local style.

  • Regional Festivals: From mud festivals in Boryeong to ice festivals in Hwacheon, local events bring seasonal joy and tourism.

Modern Adaptations of Holidays

Holiday traditions continue to evolve.

  • Urban Celebrations: Many families now celebrate holidays in cities rather than rural hometowns.

  • Simplification of Rituals: Younger generations often practice shortened versions of ancestral rites.

  • Travel and Leisure: Some families use holidays for overseas trips, balancing tradition with modern lifestyles.

Why Holidays Define Korean Life

Korean holidays reveal the tension and harmony between tradition and change. They are times of rest but also of responsibility, of joy but also of reflection. Through holidays, Koreans renew ties to family, history, and cultural identity while adapting to the realities of modern life.

Next Episode Preview

Episode 11 – The Culture of Jeong (정): Warmth in Korean Human Relations will explore the untranslatable concept of jeong, a cornerstone of Korean emotional life and social bonds.

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