New Year and Renewal

As a folklore researcher who has spent over two decades documenting festivals across six continents, I can confidently say that Seollal (설날) stands among the world’s most enchanting celebrations of family, heritage, and playful tradition. The Korean Lunar New Year isn’t merely a date on the calendar—it’s a living tapestry […]

Knowing how to offer new-year wishes is part of celebrating Seollal. This guide covers Seollal greetings and phrases, including the classic “Saehae bok mani badeuseyo,” how to say Happy Korean New Year, and the etiquette of new-year blessings. What Is Seollal and Why Is Korean Lunar New Year So Important? […]

Food is at the center of Seollal, above all tteokguk, the rice-cake soup eaten to mark another year of age. This guide covers the top Seollal foods: tteokguk, jeon, galbijjim, and the other dishes that fill the Korean new-year table, along with the meaning behind them. What is Seollal and […]

Seollal is the first day of the Korean lunar calendar and one of the country’s biggest holidays, centered on family, respect for elders, and ancestral tradition. This guide explains what Seollal is: its history, key customs such as charye and sebae, the hanbok, and what the day means to Koreans. […]

Seollal, the Korean Lunar New Year, is one of Korea’s most important holidays, a time for family, ancestral rites, and traditional food. In 2026 it falls on February 17, with a three-day national holiday around it. This guide covers everything about Seollal: its meaning and customs, the foods, the greetings, […]