A brief explanation of holidays and observances in Korea

1. Holidays and Observances of
Korea

2. On this day the celebration is much more significant than the 1st of January.
Seollal can be also thought of as Lunar New Year. On this day businessmen and
students go back to their homes and hometowns to celebrate this holiday and
reunite with their families. Families have fun on this day, and people can play
traditional games, fly kites, or spin tops. An important part of Seollal is the bow.
On the day people wake up early, dress in their best clothes, and start the
morning with a bow to their elders. It is done to show respect and gratitude
toward your elders. As you bow, you say, “Happy New Year” or “May your new
year be blessed”. After the bow, rewards are given, and they are most
commonly money, mostly sealed in a red or white envelope. Also, special
foods are eaten this day, and two of them are Mandu – Guk (Korean wanton
soup), or Tteokguk (Korean rice cake soup).

3. On this day Koreans observe the anniversary of the March 1, 1919
Independence Movement against Japanese rule. On that
day, Korean nationalists fought bravely for their country, but as usual
were denied by the Japanese with their swords and rifles. On this
day, there is a special gathering where the Korean Declaration of
Independence is read.

4. This day, the 5th of May, is a day dedicated to children. On this day
parents and guardians dress up their little ones, and head out to the
theatre, mall, a present shop, or the theme park for a day full of fun.
This day was originally founded by Bang Jung Hwan, who thought that
children and the little ones of our nations were the ones who really
should be praised, because they are the country‟s future hopes and
they are meant to grow up and be great people.

5. Memorial Day is held on the 6th of June. The day commemorates
(marks / remembers) the men and women who died while in military
service in the Korean War. This day also commemorates the people
who took part in independence movements under Japanese Rule
and cruelly killed and beaten savagely by the Japanese. On this
day, a national commemoration ceremony is held in the Seoul
National Cemetery. Families stay at home and mourn their friends of
family who have died or they attend the national commemoration
ceremony at the Seoul National Cemetery, where many brave
nationalists and presidents sleep.

6. This day commemorates the adoption democracy of the Republic of
Korea in 1948. Note: Starting from 2008 Constitution Day is no longer a
Korean national holiday. Korea will continue to celebrate this day but
government offices, schools and private businesses will remain open.

7. This day commemorates the liberation of South Korea from the
cruel rule under Imperial Japan. This day was a great day for all
nationalists and our brave fighters for independence and
freedom. The word „gwangbok‟ means „restoration of light‟.
This is what this day means to Korean people. On this
day, schools and businesses are closed.

8. Chuseok is considered probably the most important holiday in Korea. Chuseok
can also be thought as the Korean thanksgiving. That is because on this
day, people get their days off work, and the first thing they probably do is go to
their hometowns and reunite with their families. On this celebration people give
thanks for their autumn harvests and the moon. Chuseok usually takes place on
a full moon day. One of the major foods prepared and eaten during the
Chuseok holiday is songpyeon (송편),a Korean traditional rice cake which
contains delicious stuffing made with healthy ingredients such as sesame
seeds, black beans, cinnamon, pine nut, walnut, chestnut, jujube, and honey.

9. This day marks the creation of the Korean alphabet and
language, precisely the hunmin - jeongum, created by King Sejong in
1447. This day is an important day for Koreans, as language is the root
of a nation. However, this day is not considered a national
holiday, but instead an observation, which means that schools and
offices are still open.