"Diving Into Seollal" by Monica Koh
The Distant Holiday During COVID-19
The word “distance” is now familiar among us. Before 2020, we were able to gather together and share our virtues with our families, laughing and spending time with them. However, with the COVID-19 outbreak, will we still be able to travel through bustling airports to be with our relatives this year?
After all, one of the holidays celebrated in Korea is Seollal, or Korean New Year. This holiday emphasizes respect and love towards distant relatives and ancestors. “Seollal” was derived from a word that means “to be unfamiliar.” Just as you would feel unfamiliar when awaiting for new possibilities to arise, we start the New Year with an unfamiliar yet excited feeling. Some also believed that “Seollal” originated from the ancient word 섦다, meaning self-respectful and proactive. When thinking of “Seollal,” we think of rice cake soup, “Sebae,” and more.
Seollal Traditions
Since when did the tradition of eating rice cake soup during “Seollal” arise? Before the Goryeo dynasty ruled in ancient Korea, Koreans’ staple food was rice cake, grinding rice to make them. The rice cake in “Tteok-guk” (Korean rice cake soup) is made by cutting long-pulled rice cake into small, round shapes. Their white color symbolizes longevity and prosperity for the family. In addition, their circular shape resembles an old currency called “Yeopjeon.” Korean ancestors ate rice cakes that resembled “Yeopjeon” to wish for economic prosperity in the New Year. Moreover, it is said that receiving money on “Seollal” is a tradition that originated from China. In China, money in red envelopes are given to unmarried children, but money is used to symbolize blessing to children in Korea.
“Sebae” is a ritual greeting given to adults or the elderly during the New Year. It is meant to rectify the mind and body and get a new start. Also, it is a custom to show respect for the older generation. In “Sebae,” younger ones wish good fortune to smiling adults and good health for elders. They reward the children’s blessings with money to encourage the new start and instill determination in their young minds.
Many Koreans celebrate “Seollal” because each cycle of the lunar year symbolizes a new opportunity for success. This holiday demonstrates Korea’s value in respecting the elderly and celebrating family. Despite the separation of many people across the world from COVID-19, “Seollal” remains in a sentimental spirit to connect Koreans together.