Discover Korea’s top holidays—Seollal and Chuseok. Learn their unique customs, meanings, and modern trends in this cultural guide.
Korean Holidays Explained: Seollal and Chuseok Unwrapped
Discover Korea’s Most Cherished Traditions
Korea is a country that blends rich traditions with a fast-paced modern lifestyle, and nothing showcases this blend better than its two most important holidays: Seollal and Chuseok. These holidays go beyond mere celebration—they are moments of deep cultural significance, family bonding, and reflection on the past and future. Seollal, often more important than the Western New Year, is a time to honor ancestors, share heartfelt wishes, and symbolically age a year with a bowl of rice cake soup. Chuseok, on the other hand, is a harvest celebration rooted in gratitude and remembrance, bringing families together to celebrate life’s abundance and remember those who came before. Whether it’s preparing a table for ancestral rites, playing traditional games, or enduring traffic as millions travel to their hometowns, the customs reflect the strong sense of family and heritage in Korean society. In this post, we will dive into the origin, traditions, and modern adaptations of these holidays, offering a complete guide that blends history, culture, and current trends.
| What is Seollal? | It marks the Korean Lunar New Year with family and traditions. |
| What is Chuseok? | It is the Korean harvest festival for giving thanks and honoring ancestors. |
Seollal and Chuseok stand as cultural pillars in Korean society, anchoring the nation's traditions in modern times. Seollal, the Korean Lunar New Year, is more than a calendar reset—it is a moment for families to pause, reflect, and honor their ancestors through a series of heartfelt rituals. From performing deep bows called sebae to receiving words of wisdom and New Year’s money, every gesture symbolizes respect and renewal. Equally compelling is the tradition of eating tteokguk, a rice cake soup believed to bring longevity and signify aging by one year. It is not uncommon to hear someone jokingly say, “You haven’t aged if you skipped tteokguk this year!”
Chuseok, often referred to as Korean Thanksgiving, is a celebration of abundance and gratitude. Families prepare ancestral rituals known as charye, visit graves in a practice called seongmyo, and gather to enjoy songpyeon, half-moon-shaped rice cakes filled with sesame, chestnuts, or beans. These customs are tied to the agricultural cycle and symbolize the appreciation of nature’s bounty. Folk games like ganggangsullae and ssireum inject joy into the occasion, showcasing how tradition and fun coexist.
While the essence of Seollal and Chuseok remains rooted in honoring family and heritage, participation trends are gradually changing. In 2025, 88% of Koreans plan to eat tteokguk, and 65% will perform sebae. However, younger generations are showing less involvement in ancestral rites, with just 18% of those aged 18–29 viewing charye as essential. Nevertheless, the emotional core of these holidays—reunion, remembrance, and gratitude—continues to resonate across the country, making these dates not only days off but meaningful cultural milestones.
| Seollal | Chuseok | Korean Traditions |
| Lunar New Year with rituals like sebae and tteokguk. | Harvest celebration with songpyeon and grave visits. | Passed-down customs that unite generations. |
| Major family reunions and nationwide travel events. | Includes games like ssireum and ganggangsullae. | Balancing modern life with ancient rituals. |
Seollal and Chuseok serve as vibrant cultural touchstones for Korea. Though their meanings are rooted in history and tradition, their relevance evolves with each generation. They remain times of heartfelt connection, reflection, and celebration of shared heritage. Whether you're enjoying tteokguk with your elders or dancing in a circle under the Chuseok full moon, these holidays remind us of the power of family, remembrance, and renewal. Understanding them allows both locals and foreigners to appreciate Korea’s unique cultural rhythm—a blend of the ancient and the modern.
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Which tradition touched you most? Have you experienced Seollal or Chuseok yourself? Share your stories or ask your questions in the comments below. Your interaction makes this blog richer and more meaningful!
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