Traditionally, every house has a fairly large stove. On December 24th people will send off the kitchen god back to the god of Jade Emperor which is called “farewell to stove god” activities. Peters Chen, Director, Education Division, Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) in India, says, “Owners of companies and business prepare a Year-end banquet for staff to appreciate their efforts of the whole year. The first date of the Spring Festival this year is on January 22 in the year 2023. It usually starts form December 16th of lunar calendar, so-called year-end banquet, and ends in the Lantern Festival on the 15th of the first month of lunar calendar, lasting one month long. The Spring Festival in Taiwan, also known as the first day of Lunar New Year is the most popular festival in Chinese speaking community all over the world. The holiday takes place in the span of several days and is marked by the gathering of family members, performing Korean rituals relating to the wish for the new year, eating traditional foods, playing folk games, and other traditional activities,” he said. Presented in a beautiful and colorful pouch, the gift has deep meaning for South Koreans.“In India we celebrate various festivals like Diwali to bring the family together likewise in Korean families, Seollal is celebrated with family so that those who were apart the whole year come closer again and spend time together. ![]() After sebae, the children receive ‘sebaetdon’ or New Year’s money as a gift from their elders. While performing the ritual, one must wear ‘hanbok’. This deep traditional bow signifies respect. Younger people must bow deeply to their elders and wish them a happy new year. It is the act of kneeling on the ground and bowing deeply so that your hands are also on the ground. In South Korea, the clear broth and white rice cakes of tteokguk are believed to symbolize starting out the year with a clean mind and body.Īnother important ritual that is followed is called ‘sebae’. Another very common dish is ‘ddeokguk’ or rice cake soup which, though eaten throughout the year, carries special significance on Seollal. Though the food prepared for the ceremony of charye differs by region, the most common varieties are rice, soup, meat, seafood, liquor, fruit and vegetables. Then the family gets together for a ceremony called ‘eumbok’ where they eat the food blessed by the ancestors, allowing them to start the new year with many blessings and prosperity. Charye involves the preparation of food by female relatives and the serving of food to ancestors by male relatives. One of the most important rituals performed during this auspicious occasion is called ‘charye’. It is also considered respectful for people to visit their mothers and fathers-in-law during the Korean New Year. Often, the family members first visit the elders, and this includes the grandparents and the parents. ![]() ![]() Since it is one of the few times families may be able to get together and catch up on one another's lives, it is considered respectful and important to attend the holiday. Many Koreans travel from overseas to visit their families for this annual holiday. Compared to Chuseok, Seollal carries more importance as it is treated as a holiday to spend with their family members in their hometown. In such a case, the New Year falls on the third new moon after the solstice. Seollal generally occurs in January or February on the second new moon after the winter solstice, unless there is an intercalary eleventh or twelfth month in the lead-up to the New Year.
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