How are Seollal and Chuseok celebrated in South Korea?

Seollal and Chuseok are the two most significant holidays in South Korea, both observed according to the lunar calendar. These holidays emphasize family unity, with relatives gathering in their ancestral hometowns or at the home of the family head to honor their ancestors through ancestral rites known as cherye.1

Shared Traditions

During both holidays, it is customary to wear hanbok, the traditional Korean dress, and to perform formal, respectful greetings for elders. Sharing special foods, particularly various types of rice cakes (dduk), is a central part of the celebrations.1

Distinctive Celebrations

• Chuseok: Often called the Korean Thanksgiving, this harvest festival centers on commemorating the fall harvest. The day begins with food and wine offerings to ancestors, followed by a meal of fish and newly harvested grains. A signature food is songpyon, a crescent-shaped rice cake steamed on pine needles. Celebrants also visit ancestral graves, exchange gifts, and participate in traditional activities like archery, sirrum (wrestling), and tug-of-war.2
• Seollal: As the Lunar New Year, this holiday focuses on marking the beginning of the year through family-centered rituals and the honoring of ancestors.1