New Year's Day :
January
1
This day is called " sinjeong
" in Korean. Although people
exchange seasonal greetings
and cards on January 1,
it is not considered as
important as the Korean
traditional New Year's Day
by the lunar calendar, which
has long been used in Korea.
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 Lunar
New Year's Day :
First day
of the first lunar month
This most significant traditional
holiday of the year lasts
for three days including
a day before and after "
seollal ," which is Korean
traditional New Year's Day.
Seolnal is the first day
of the first lunar month,
which usually falls on around
late January or early February
by the solar calendar. On
the New Year's morning,
families gather to the eldest
member's, wearing traditional
dress (hanbok) and hold
an ancestor memorial service
(charye), serving traditional
dishes that are specially
prepared for ancestors.
Rice cake soup (tteokguk)
is a traditional main dish
for this holiday. "Sebae"
is another important custom
on seolnal. Families and
friends wish each other
good luck for the new year,
giving big bows. Traditional
games for this season include
"yut" games, kite flying
(yeonnalligi), and Korean
sea-saw (neolttwigi). |
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Independence
Movement Day :
March 1
This day, " samiljeol "
in Korean, commemorates
the independence movement
that
occurred throughout the
nation in 1919 against the
Japanese colonial rule.
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Arbor
Day : April
5
This day was designated
to plant trees in private
gardens, communities and
nearby mountains. Citizens
participate in various activities
such as planting trees and
cleaning surroundings. Arbor
Day is called " singmogil
" in Korean. |
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 Buddha's
Birthday :
Eighth day of the fourth
lunar month
On the eighth day of the
fourth lunar month, people
celebrate the birth of Buddha.
This lunar day usually falls
during May by the solar
calendar. On the eve, street
parades with multi-colored
Buddhist lanterns are seen
along the major streets
in the city, while other
bright lanterns shine in
all temples holding people's
wishes. This day is called
" seokga-tansinil " in Korean.
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Children's
Day : May
5
This day is the happiest
day for children as they
are provided with special
events and gifts from their
school, relatives as well
as parents. " Eorininal
" is the Korean name for
this day. |
|
 Memorial
Day : June
6
On this day people look
back upon the memory of
late soldiers during the
Korean War (1950-1953) with
respect and affection. Government
and many other organizations
hold memorial services for
the war dead on the day.
Especially, they will hear
the siren blowing at 10
a.m. on every June 6 everywhere
in Korea. The siren represents
that it's time to pay a
one minute silent tribute
to the war dead. The Korean
name of this day is " hyeonchungil
." |
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Constitution
Day : July
17
This day is to commemorate
the establishment of the
Korean constitution in 1948.
It is called " jeheonjeol
" in Korean. |
|
Liberation
Day : August
15
This day is to celebrate
Korea's regaining political
independence from the Japanese
rule that lasted for 36
years from 1919 to 1945.
Many events, including parades
and fireworks, take place
throughout the nation on
this day, which is called
" gwangbokjeol " in Korean.
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 Thanksgiving
Day : Fifteenth
day of the eighth lunar
month
"Chuseok"
is another family-get-together
occasion almost
as big a traditional holiday
as Lunar New Year's Day.
The holidays are also celebrated
for three days including
a day before and after chuseok.
Traffic congestion should
be expected on all highways
since everyone heads for
their hometown with gifts
for their parents and siblings.
On this harvest festival
morning, an ancestral ritual
service (charye) is offered
with fresh harvest crops
and fruits in almost all
families. Indispensable
to the festival menu is
"songpyeon" a rice cake,
which is stuffed with chestnuts,
sesame, or beans and steamed
on pine needles to add fragrance.
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National
Foundation Day :
October
3
The progenitor of Korean
people, Dangun, is believed
to have founded this country
in
2333 BC. This day, called
" gaecheonjeol " in Korean,
is commemorated with celebration
ceremonies for the foundation
day of Korea. |
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Christmas
: December
25
As in many other countries
of the world, this day gives
a very festive mood to everybody,
especially to young people.
They exchange cards and
gifts and have parties.
Churches prepare special
events for the public as
well as religious services
for their congregation.
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