Celebrating Lunar

New Year,

Korean Style!

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Slide Deck by Jini Shim

jini_shim@myfsd.org

Last updated Jan 27, 2025

did you know…

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Historically, Some countries did not consider january 1 as the new year?

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They observed lunar new year instead.

What is

Lunar New Year?

Lunar New Year is the first day of the new year according to the Lunar Calendar. Long time ago, some countries followed the lunar calendar, where the moon’s cycle determines the dates.

Which countries celebrate Lunar New Year?

Along with Korea, many countries in Asia observe Lunar New Year, such as China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Mongolia, Tibet, etc.

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🎵 Learn to sing the Lunar New Year song: Magpie Magpie New Year 까치 까치 설날은

The Magpie bird symbolizes “good news”, so Koreans sang about the Magpie on New Year’s day.

Lyrics:

까치 까치 설날은 어저께고요 (‘Magpie, magpie, yesterday was your New Year’s)

우리우리 설날은 오늘이래요 (‘But today is our New Year’s Day’)

곱고 고운 댕기도 내가 들이고 (‘I put in my beautiful pigtail ribbons’)

새로 사온 신발도 내가 신어요 (‘and a newly bought pair of shoes’)

How Korea celebrates Lunar New Year

From Jan 2025

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About 2 mins

Arirang News (English language news channel in South Korea)

How do you say

“Lunar New Year”

in Korean?

Seol-lal

설날

When is the exact date of the Lunar New Year?

In 2025: Jan 29

In 2026: Feb 17

In 2027: Feb 7

In 2028: Jan 27

What is the Lunar New Year greeting that Koreans say to each other?

새해 복 많이 받으세요!

Sae-hae-bohk mah-ni ba-deu-seh-yo!

“Receive lots of luck in the New Year”

What do Koreans eat on Seol-lal?

Dduk-guk 떡국

“rice cake soup”

Koreans believed that only by eating this rice cake soup, one truly becomes one year older.

How to make dduk-gook!

(2 min)

What are some traditional Korean Seollal activities?

차례 Cha-rye

“Ancestral rites”

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Charye is a memorial service that prays for the peace and good health of the ancestors. Family members will dress up or wear a hanbok (the traditional Korean dress). Everyone will then gather in front of a table prepared for the ancestral rite.

Seollal Activity

The meaning behind the items on the table

Many of these traditional activities are also done on “Chuseok 추석", also known as “Korean Thanksgiving Day” in September

세배 Se-bae

“New Year’s Bow”

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Families gather, and the younger ones do the “New Year’s bow” to the elders of the family as a sign of respect.

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Then, the elders would share some words of wisdom to the younger ones.

Seollal Activity

Along with their words of wisdom, it is customary for the elders to give money to the younger ones. This money is called “Se-bae-dohn 세배돈” and could be placed in a red “luck pouch” then given out.

Korean Money

한국 돈

Hangook Dohn

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What do Korean bills look like?

Learn about

Equivalent to these US Dollars

Korean Money

한국 돈

Hangook Dohn

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Who are the historical figures on the Korean bills?

Shin Saimdang

(1504-1551)

Calligraphist, poet, writer, and artist

King Sejong the Great

(1397-1450)

King who created the Korean alphabet and other notable scientific inventions

Yi I aka Yulgok

(1536-1584)

Scholar

Yi Hwang aka Toeh-gye

(1501-1570)

Scholar

Learn about

Learn how to do the New Year’s bow!

What are some games played on Lunar New Year?

윷놀이 Yoot-nori

“Game of Yoot”

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This traditional game involves 4 wooden sticks and a game board with 4 pieces. The team to have all of their 4 pieces make it around the board wins.

Seollal Activity

연날리기 Yeon naligi

“Flying Kites”

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It was believed that as the kites flew higher and higher, the bad spirits will fly away and good spirits will come your way.

Seollal Activity

How will YOU celebrate Lunar New Year Korean style?

Additional Resources

🖌️Color a Korean traditional folk art template of the Tiger and Magpie

Tiger represented a force that warded off evil spirits. Magpie represented bringing of the good news.

It was customary to place a picture of a Tiger and Magpie on the front door of the house for protection and good luck.

Click the image to access the file of template

Arirang TV News: Origins and Customs of Lunar New Year in Korea (2 min)

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Arirang TV News: Meaning of Lunar New Year to Koreans (2 min)

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Genikids: Lunar New Year theme children’s song medley (20 min)

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Genikids: Lunar New Year short cartoon (Audio in Korean only. No subtitles. 7 min)

🎦 Videos on Korean Lunar New Year

Seol-lal Video Comprehension

(watch up to 4 min 35 sec)

Then answer questions on the Google form

Listen to a story about celebrating the

Lunar New Year: