Let's Learn about Korea on Tuesday-Lesson # 6

Happy New Year class!! You may say "but Teach, New Years was a few weeks ago." That was the solar new year. On January 26 this year, Koreans celebrate the lunar new year.

Korean New Year
Korean New Year (Seol/Sol/Seol-ral) is celebrated on the first day of the lunar calendar, which this year falls on Monday, January 26. It is one of the most important holidays in Korea and lasts 3 days. People wear their hanboks and spend time with family. Children pay respects to their elders by doing a deep traditional bow, the practice is known as sebae. Parents and grandparents then reward their children with crisp new money. Many people also play traditional games.

Korean New Year is celebrated on the same day as Chinese New Year and does follow the Chinese zodiac. The Chinese zodiac is a 12 year cycle, with each year represented by an animal. Each animal has different personality traits and characteristics. A person is said to have the traits of the animal associated with the year they are born. This year is the year of the OX. Some of the traits associated with the OX are dependable, calm, ambitious, steady, modest, and logical. Dave and I were born in the year of the Tiger. To find out what your sign is, click here.

Wishing you a happy and prosperous New Year! See ya next week...