In 1980s, the opinion that the old New Year should be designated as a holiday and respect its tradition was raised, and the government declared the first day of the Korean calendar as a folk day from 1985 to 1988. The day is called Hangul: 신정 Hanja: 新正, and the old new year became Hangul: 구정 Hanja: 舊正.Īfter the liberation of Korea in 1945, the South Korean government designated the period from January 1 to January 3 of the Gregorian calendar as a public new year holiday. The Japanese rulers set the official Korean New Year to the first day of Gregorian calendar, following the Japanese New Year. Abolition and reestablishmentĪfter Japan annexed Korea, celebration of Seollal was prohibited. By the 13th century, Korean New Year was one of the nine major Korean festivals that included ancestral rites, according to the Korean historical work, the Goryeosa. Then celebration of Korean New Year have continued to Goryeo and Joseon. Under the rule of 21st King of Silla, new year was celebrated in 488 AD. Korea's own record of new year celebration is found in Samguk yusa ( Memorabilia of the Three Kingdoms), compiled in the 13th century. The earliest records of Korean New Year celebrations are included in the 7th century Chinese historical works, the Book of Sui and the Old Book of Tang, containing excerpts of celebrations during at new year's day in the Silla Kingdom in the 7th century. Worshipping events with the celebration of singing and dancing was held in Buyeo during the 12th month ( 殷正月) of the Chinese calendar at that time. The prototype of Korean New Year is believed to be found in the 3rd century Chinese historical work, Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wei, Volume 30. While Korean New Year is generally referred to as Seollal, it has been called by many other names. In such a case, the New Year falls on the third new moon after the solstice. Seollal generally occurs in January or February on the second new moon after the winter solstice, unless there is an intercalary eleventh or twelfth month in the lead-up to the New Year. Additionally, children often receive money called Sebaetdon (New Year’s money) as a Seollal gift in a form of Bokjumeoni (복주머니, lucky bags) from their elders after performing a formal bow. During this time, many Koreans visit family, perform ancestral rites, wear the hanbok (한복, 韓服), eat Korean food, including Korean cuisine, and play folk games. The celebration usually lasts three days: the day before New Year, New Year itself, and the day after New Year. It is one of the most important traditional holidays in both North and South Korea. Seollal ( Hangul: 설날 RR: Seollal MR: Sŏllal) is a festival and national holiday commemorating the first day of the Korean calendar.
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