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Mark your calendars for the vibrant and festive Seollal, taking place on February 10! Seollal, also known as Korean Lunar New Year, is among the most revered traditional holidays in Korea, a celebration of renewal, family, and ancient customs. This time-honored festivity dates back to the 14th century during the reign of King Sejong. Bursting with traditional music, dance, and a special feast featuring Tteokguk- a traditional Korean soup, it beautifully encapsulates the rich Korean heritage. Get ready to immerse yourself in this colourful cultural extravaganza, and celebrate Seollal in style!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1392</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Origin of Seollal</div><div class='timeline-text'>Seollal is traced back to the beginning of the Joseon Dynasty under the reign of King Taejo. It officially becomes a significant traditional holiday in Korea.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1446</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>King Sejong Rule</div><div class='timeline-text'>During King Sejong's rule, the holiday developed further and more customs, celebrations, and traditions associated with Seollal were established.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1800s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Full Moon Seollal</div><div class='timeline-text'>Seollal transforms into a full moon festival. Folk games like Yut Nori and Juldarigi became common activities and performances during the celebration.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1945</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Modern Seollal</div><div class='timeline-text'>Post Korean liberation, Seollal becomes a national holiday with government regulations standardizing time off from work and school to celebrate.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2000s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Seollal in Media</div><div class='timeline-text'>Seollal is widely portrayed in Korean dramas and movies, presenting the traditional customs and culture to a global audience, thereby increasing international interest.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>Present</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Contemporary Celebrations</div><div class='timeline-text'>Seollal continues to be celebrated with traditional games, ancestral rites and other festivities, reflecting ancient customs while embracing modern societal change.</div></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Host a Tteokguk making session</h3><p class='facts-text'>As a traditional meal to celebrate Seollal, Tteokguk is a must-have. Gather your friends and family and set up a fun cooking session. Enjoy good conversations while indulging in a warm bowl of Tteokguk.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Organize a traditional Hanbok fashion show</h3><p class='facts-text'>Celebrating Seollal without the traditional attire Hanbok will be incomplete. Organize a Hanbok fashion show in your local community or among friends. This will not only showcase the beautifully designed clothing but also give everyone a slight window into Korean culture and history.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Screen a Korean movie night</h3><p class='facts-text'>Host a movie night where you only play Korean movies. This would serve as an entertaining means of understanding Korean storytelling, themes and ideas and it is an enjoyable way to expose friends to Korean culture.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Learn traditional Korean games</h3><p class='facts-text'>Games like Yut Nori or Jegichagi are popular during Seollal. Gather friends and family and learn to play these traditional games. It's a fun way to engage with others while learning about Korean traditions.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Embark on a virtual tour of Korea</h3><p class='facts-text'>Many online platforms offer virtual tours of different cities and attractions in Korea. Embark on one of these tours to learn more about the history, traditions, and landscapes that make Korea unique. Make it even more interactive by asking quiz questions after the tour, it would be fun and educational!</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Enrich Cultural Understanding</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Seollal is the perfect opportunity to immerse in and celebrate Korean traditions. From learning about the significance of Tteokguk, wearing a Hanbok, to understanding the traditional games, this festival deepens our cultural appreciation and insight.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It's Interactive and Fun</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Hosting a Tteokguk making session or organizing a traditional Hanbok fashion show brings people together in fun and engaging activities. The festival is not merely about observing; it promotes active participation and enjoyment.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Blend of Traditional and Modern</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>While Seollal honors age-old customs and traditions, it isn't stuck in the past. Modern interpretations, such as screening Korean movies and embarking on virtual tours, make the celebration relevant and accessible, especially for younger generations and people around the world.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Seollal Celebrations Extend Over Three Days</h3><p class='facts-content'>Seollal is not just a one-day affair. The celebration traditionally starts the day before the Lunar New Year and ends the day after, creating a three-day long festive period for family gatherings and ancestral rites.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Koreans Age One Year During Seollal</h3><p class='facts-content'>In Korean culture, everyone ages one year on Seollal rather than on their birthday. This is because Koreans traditionally used lunar years for age calculation, marking Seollal as the communal birthday for everyone.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Seollal Transportation Can Be Crowded</h3><p class='facts-content'>Seollal is one of the biggest migration periods in Korea, known as 'seol yeonhyu', as millions of people return to their hometowns to be with their families. This makes the transportation systems extremely crowded.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Seollal Involves Paying Respect to Ancestors</h3><p class='facts-content'>Charye is a traditional ancestral memorial ceremony performed on Seollal, showing respect and appreciation to both recent and ancient ancestors. The ceremony involves preparing a ritual table with food offerings and performing rites.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Gifts are Often Exchanged During Seollal</h3><p class='facts-content'>It is common to give and receive gifts during Seollal. Household items, special foods, money envelopes, and even Spam gift sets are popular choices. Gift-giving is a way of showing love and respect to family members and elders.</p></div></div>
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