As the world gears up to a new year, the hope and promise of new beginnings can be felt everywhere. Every country has its own way of celebrating the new year in the hopes of starting fresh and leaving the old behind. In Western countries, the New Year begins on January 1st with fireworks lighting up the sky, countdowns at midnight, loud cheers, parties, and celebrations with friends.
Whereas in South Korea, the heart of Korean New Year traditions lies in a quieter, deeper, and more meaningful celebration known as Seollal (설랄), the Korean Lunar New Year, where family, respect, and tradition take center stage.
Seollal (설랄) : When, Why, and How South Korea Welcomes the Lunar New Year
Seollal starts in a lunar calendar from late january to mid february. It’s not only new year, It’s the perfect time to reconnect with the history of your family and remember it. Families travel to their ancestral homes, dress in traditional Hanbok (한복), and participate in Charye (차리예), a ritual to pay respect to ancestors. Younger family members perform a deep bow called Sebae (세바에) to their elders, receiving blessings and warm wishes in return. A traditional dish, Tteokguk (떡국) (rice cake soup), is consumed to represent clarity, renewal, and transition into a new year of life.
Quiet Reflections vs Loud Celebrations: How Seollal Differs from the West
What makes seollal so special is the peaceful and nostalgic feeling. Unlike the Western New Year festivities marked by fireworks, loud music, and a countdown at midnight, Seollal maintains a more restrained pace and emphasizes silence, gratitude, and togetherness. It’s not the loud parties, it’s the happiness families have together, it’s the eating and talking. One of the most beautiful aspects of Seollal is how it encourages people to slow down, reflect on the past year, and move forward with humility.
Lunar New Year Across Asia
Seollal is one of the components of the Lunar New Year celebration observed in various Asian countries, each characterized by unique traditions. In China, the Lunar New Year is celebrated with dragon dances and red decorative elements signifying good fortune, while in Vietnam, It is characterized by flowers, offerings, and family gatherings. Although they differ in presentation, these celebrations exhibit a strong emphasis on kinship, ancestry, and representation. While Western New Year is characterized by visual spectacle.
Conclusion: Where Fireworks Meet First Bows
In the end, every country has its own way of celebrating the New Year. As western celebrations are widely carried out with countdown, people do not forget to come back to their roots and celebrate with family and friends. South Korea shows that celebrations can both be joyful and meaningful, with family warmths, rituals, shared meals, respectful bow and time spent together, marking the beginning of new year.
Written by – Sakshi Yadav
About the Author –
I am Sakshi Yadav, and I am currently pursuing my Master’s in Computer Applications. My interest in technology and diverse cultures has brought me to South Korea, a place where innovation and rich traditions beautifully coexist, which has made me learn Korean Language and also work on my interest which is writing, and am so passionate about it as well as have gained valuable experience in this field