I would like to wish for all my friends and blog’s readers!!! Happy Seollal Day and Happy Chinese New Year!!!

새해 복 많이 받으세요!!!

Gong Xi Fa Chai!!!

Actually, Seollal is mean Lunar New Year in Korea, but its same meaning with Chinese New Year. Maybe the cultural for this two Eve are the different.

I not sure how Koreans celebrate Seollal but I just know a little bit about this. During Seollal, Koreans traditionally wear Han-bok (traditional clothes), perform ancestral rites, play folk games, eat traditional foods, listen to stories, and catch up with one another.

But, I make little research and I got some information about Seollal from website Korea Tourism Organization, as below: 

The morning of Seollal begins with an ancestral rite. Family members, each dressed up for the occasion (traditional in Han-bok), gathering front of the ritual table, and set it with an ancestral tablet and dishes of ritual foods according to the laws of ancestral rites. Once set, the rites begins with deep bows as greetings to the ancestor spirits, and proceeds with offerings and prayers before ending with bidding farewell to the spirits. The ritual is conducted to express respect and gratitude to one’s ancestors and to pray for the family’s well-being throughout the year.

Following the rite, everyone eats the ritual food. The main dish of Seollal is tteokguk, a traditional soup made with sliced rice cakes, beef, egg, vegetables or other ingredients. In Korea, eating tteokguk on the New Year’s Day is believed to add a year to one’s age. People often ask each other, “How many servings of tteokguk have you had?” as a fun way to ask each other’s age.

After the meal, the younger generations of the family pay respect to their elders by taking a deep bow called sebae, and by presenting them with gifts. Then, the elders offer their blessings and wishes for a prosperous year. Children often receive sebaetdon (New Year’s money) as a Seollal gift. For the remainder of the day, family members play traditional folk games, eat more, and share stories.

In Malaysia, we familiar with Chinese New Year and most of peoples that religion is Buddha, they celebrate Chinese New Year. Normally, night of Chinese New Year’s Eve – they were enjoying a dinner with their families’ members. It is a symbol of the closeness and intimacy you share. After dinner, herald in the New Year with their families’ members.

If you are celebrating, do greet members of your family, your friends and other guests by saying in a strong and friendly voice “Gong Xi Fa Chai!” which translated means, “Have a happy and prosperous new year!” If you are visiting, saying this beautiful greeting is also auspicious.

I think the most some thing between Seollal Day in Korea and Chinese New Year’s Day in Malaysia are New Year’s money. Normally, in Malaysia we called Angpau. Young generations for who not married yet, they will receive Angpau from the elders. 

Since I not married yet, so I entitled to receive Angpau. I feeling so happy, when I got Angpau when Chinese New Year’s Eve. Hihihi~

Happy Seollal (Happy Lunar New Year) and Happy Chinese New Year!!! To all my friends and blog's readers.. Enjoy your Seollal and Chinese New Year's Eve with your families and friends.. 

새해 복 많이 받으세요!!!

Gong Xi Fa Chai!!!