Holidays and Seasonal Celebrations

Korea's two biggest holidays are Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (the harvest festival). These are times when families gather to honor their ancestors, share food, and check in on one another after the year.

Seollal (Lunar New Year)

On Seollal, people eat tteokguk (rice cake soup) and perform sebae (a deep bow) to their elders, who in return give blessings and money. Eating a bowl of tteokguk is said to make you a year older.

새해 복 많이 받으세요. 건강하시고 하시는 일 다 잘되시길 바랍니다.

saehae bok mani badeuseyo. geonganghasigo hasineun il da jaldoesigil baramnida.

Happy New Year. I wish you good health and success in all you do.

할머니, 세배 받으세요. 절 올리겠습니다.

halmeoni, sebae badeuseyo. jeol olligetseumnida.

Grandmother, please receive my New Year's bow. Let me bow to you.

올해도 공부 열심히 하고 건강하게 자라거라.

olhaedo gongbu yeolsimhi hago geonganghage jaragoeora.

Study hard and grow up healthy this year too. (an elder's blessing)

Chuseok (Harvest Festival)

On Chuseok, families hold ancestral rites with the fresh harvest, make songpyeon (half-moon rice cakes), and make wishes under the full moon.

추석 잘 보내세요. 가족과 함께 풍성한 한가위 되시길 바랍니다.

chuseok jal bonaeseyo. gajokgwa hamkke pungseonghan hangawi doesigil baramnida.

Have a great Chuseok. I hope you enjoy an abundant holiday with your family.

올해 송편은 같이 빚어요. 손이 많아야 빨라요.

olhae songpyeoneun gachi bijeoyo. soni manaya ppallayo.

Let's make the songpyeon together this year; many hands make it faster.

Holiday Greetings and Blessings

On holidays people exchange 'deokdam,' kind words wishing each other well: typically health for elders and achievement for juniors.

부모님께 안부 전해 주세요. 새해 평안하시길 빕니다.

bumonimkke anbu jeonhae juseyo. saehae pyeonganhasigil bimnida.

Please give my regards to your parents. I wish them peace in the new year.

Major Holidays and Days

Day	Meaning
설날 (Seollal)	Lunar New Year's Day, the 1st of the first lunar month
추석 (Chuseok)	The 15th of the eighth lunar month, giving thanks for the year's harvest
한글날 (Hangeullal)	October 9, commemorating the creation of the Korean alphabet
어버이날 (Eobeoinal)	May 8, Parents' Day, thanking one's parents
정월 대보름 (Daeboreum)	The 15th of the first lunar month, making wishes under the first full moon
동지 (Dongji)	Around December 22, the winter solstice, when red-bean porridge is eaten

이번 명절 연휴에 고향에 내려가세요?

ibeon myeongjeol yeonhyue gohyange naeryeogaseyo?

Are you going down to your hometown this holiday break?

💡 Tip: For holiday greetings, 'bok mani badeuseyo' (Seollal) and 'pungseonghan hangawi doeseyo' (Chuseok) are safe choices. Even just sending a greeting text is not a serious breach of etiquette.

💡 Tip: Many families now simplify or skip ancestral rites, so remember that these traditions are not the same in every household.

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