Korean Lunar New Year History

First day of the lunar calendar is one of the most celebrated national holidays in korea.

Korean lunar new year history. The origins of the lunar new year festival are thousands of years old and are steeped in legends. Korean lunar new year also has its own unique customs and traditions. While many observe sinjeong solar new year.

Because nian feared the colour red loud noises and fire red paper decorations were pasted to doors lanterns were burned all night and firecrackers were lit to frighten the beast away. Seollal like chuseok is more of a family based celebration. It consists of a period of celebrations starting on new year s day.

Saehae bok mani badseiyo. The earliest references to korean new year are believed to be found in the 3rd century chinese historical work records of the three kingdoms book of wei volume 30. It is said that wealth and luck shall be attained by honouring ones ancestors.

By the 13th century korean new year was one of the nine major korean festivals. One legend is that of nian a hideous beast believed to feast on human flesh on new year s day. January 1 of the gregorian western calendar koreans also celebrate seollal which usually lasts for three days the day of the day before and the day after.

Records of 7th century korean new year celebrations are included in the chinese historical works the book of sui and the old book of tang. This year seollal falls on january 25 of the gregorian calendar. They observe the occasion according to both solar as well as lunar calendars.

Seollal lunar new year s day. The korean new year. New year as celebrated according to the lunar calendar is also one of the days on which the koreans remember their ancestors and get in contact with them.