Explore Korea's two most important traditional holidays. Learn the traditions, foods, and Korean words every learner should know.
Korea has two great national holidays: Chuseok (추석) and Seollal (설날). Together, they trigger one of the largest annual migrations in the world as millions of Koreans travel home to their families.
These are not just days off. They are expressions of Korean identity, family loyalty, and ancestral respect.
When: First day of the lunar calendar, late January or February. Duration: 3 days.
The centerpiece is 차례 (charye) — a memorial ritual to honor ancestors. Families arrange carefully prepared foods, bow deeply, and offer gratitude.
떡국 (tteokguk) — Rice cake soup. The most important Seollal dish. Eating it on New Year's Day symbolizes becoming one year older.
갈비찜 (galbi-jjim) — Braised short ribs
전 (jeon) — Savory pancakes with vegetables, seafood, or meat
식혜 (sikhye) — Sweet fermented rice drink
Children dress in 한복 (hanbok) and perform a deep bow to their elders. In return, elders give 세뱃돈 (sebaetdon) — money in white envelopes.
Say: 새해 복 많이 받으세요 — Please receive many blessings in the New Year
When: 15th day of the 8th lunar month, September or October. Duration: 3 days.
Chuseok is the harvest moon festival. Families perform 차례 (charye) and then 성묘 (seongmyo) — visiting ancestral graves to clean them and show respect.
Half-moon shaped rice cakes stuffed with sesame seeds or red beans, steamed over pine needles. Making songpyeon is a family activity.
Korean saying: the more beautiful your songpyeon, the more beautiful your future spouse will be.
Women in hanbok join hands in a large circle under the full moon and dance together. This is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
| Item | Korean | Worn by |
|---|---|---|
| Full skirt | 치마 chima | Women |
| Short jacket | 저고리 jeogori | Both |
| Loose trousers | 바지 baji | Men |
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 새해 복 많이 받으세요 | Happy New Year |
| 즐거운 추석 되세요 | Happy Chuseok |
| 차례 | Ancestral memorial ritual |
| 세배 | New Year bow |
효 (hyo) — filial piety, respect for parents and ancestors — is a core Confucian value deeply embedded in Korean culture. Chuseok and Seollal are its annual expression.
Understanding these holidays is the emotional and cultural foundation of the language you are learning. At Klovers, we teach not just Korean grammar, but Korean culture — because language without culture is only half the picture.