One  regional characteristic of Korea is 東高西低(동고서저). In other words, the east region has high elevation due to concentrated mountain ranges, and the west region has low elevation due to hige plains around.

Since my grandmother’s house was located on the east side, I could see many mountains, covered in snow.

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On the very day of Seollal, we prepare for ancestral rites early in the morning. We cook and prepare traditional dishes for the ritual. We open the door and windows so that the spirits of the ancestors passed away to come inside the house. (It’s considered as the ‘comity’ toward the ancestors.)Traditionally only men, or male head of the family are allowed bowing to the ancestors. But the way of practicing the rites may differ by regions; each has their own custom. In Korean, we call this ancestral rites as ‘Charye(차례)’.

My grandmother is a Christian, so she does not prepare for Charye. In order to take a picture of the memorial service ‘table’ I had to visit my relative’s house nearby.

After the ritual, the whole family gather around and eat breakfast. Here, we eat DDeokguk(떡국),a Korean word meaning rice cake soup. Koreans have an interesting old saying(could be a joke), that ‘You grow a year older if you eat a bowl of rice cake soup.’

So many people ‘competed’…with one another to eat more DDeokguk, that I could not take a picture of it. Instead, I ‘borrowed’ from other site.

(image from: http://cafe.naver.com/cinnamonroll/1347 )

After eating DDeokguk, young children(but typically anyone who is not yet an adult;;) bow to the elders, a greeting for the  New Year. This is called as Sebae(세배). Children, sometimes dressed in Hanbok(Korea’s traditional attire) say out loud this saying:
“새해 복(福) 많이 받으세요,” which means “I wish you a happy new year” in Korean.
After the bow, the elders give their young relatives some money- and this is the main reason why the adults want to avoid the moment, and the children become wild at the moment. Young kids tend to ‘carefully’ put their money in this kind of pouch.

(image from:http://cafe.daum.net/bonito08/6jPz/8?docid=1EYJU|6jPz|8|20090315134129)

In fact, I also received quite a lot of money.  Hey, I’m not just a 9th grader!

In the evening, our relatives gathered around and did Yut-no-re(윷놀이)

While we played this, for fun, the adults bet some money on other game called ‘hwatu(gostop),’
although this was originatd from Japan, itself became one of the highlights games in Seollal, and it can never be absent among Koreans culture….ha…ha…ha…(ㅡ.,ㅡ;;)

After all, no matter how you spend Seollal cheerfully, it is ,the lovable holiday for everyone…(well, almost,,,)^^

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Here is a link for more specific and professional(?) article on Korea’s Lunar New Year.
http://english.seoul.go.kr/gtk/news/reports_view.php?idx=1172

From.
Xiah-J.

On this day, people express their love, greetings, and thanks to each other.

Since many couples date outside, it may/would be jealous and terrible  for solo people(singles) to go outside.
Me? I’m a solo also.

Stores are once again busy selling sweets; and yes, here are some pictures of chocolates.

 

 I have never experienced this kind of occasion; Seollal and Valentine’s Day was never on the same day before. So, I should say..

HAPPY Seollentine’s Day!!!

The upcoming 14th(It’s interesting to have Seollal on Valentine’s Day!) is one of Korea’s Annual Holidays, Seollal.

There are two most important holidays in Korea. Seollal and Chuseok. Seollal(설날) is the New Year’s Day and Chuseok(추석) is August 15th(the time when we have the biggest moon of the year) in the Lunar Calendar.

Although Chuseok is usually considered as the biggest holiday, Seollal is second to none  in its importance: In both holidays, many people visit their parents, despite the distance. In Seollal, people have ‘get-together’ in a quite big family units. They meet  many relatives, uncles, aunts, cousins and so on: exchange gifts, talk together, play games…

A week before Seollal may be the start of people getting busy buying foods, presents, and other necessary things needed in celebrating the new start of the Lunar year. This is when all stores, markets and other shops start to get busy.

I visited ‘Lotte Mart’ in Jamsil, since this place was the closest big market for me to go by subway. The first floor, where it sells foods, daily necessaries, etc, was full of people shopping for all kinds of things.

Among them, I only took pictures of people selling Seollal related objects.

The most significant point in Korea’s holidays like Seollal or Chuseok is that, you can see present sets. Usually fruits, tolietries(shampoo set, toothbrush, toothpaste, lotion, soup…)…the kinds vary.

▲Look, clerks are wearing Hanbok(Korea’s traditional clothes). I believe this kind of culture(?)is unique in the world, haha:D

I will post up ‘Seollal, Korea’s Lunar New Year(2)’ after Feb. 15th. My family also visit grandparents’ this Saturday. It would be interesting to see Korea’s peculiar and unique culture of Seollal!!!

For people who are staying in Seoul, or who do not go far away from their homes, do not worry. All public transportations are available all the time, so you can go to many areas around: Since Seoul will be ‘emptier’ than before, no need to worry for traffic jams within here.

Visit Palaces such as Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, or Hanok villages like Namsangol Hanok Village(look for Namsan Hanok Village in my blog) during Feb. 13th~Feb. 15th. There will be various kinds of Korean traditional games available for every visitors.

Have a nice time during Seollal break!!!!!!

＼^___^/

From,

XiahJ.