Complete list of national holidays in Korea

Like every country in the world, Korea also has its own national holidays. Some are similar to Western ones, others instead unique and present only in Asian or Korean culture. The purpose of this article will be to give you a brief introduction of all the main national holidays in Korea, known as( Jonghyun Il ). Let's go!

First of the year

The first day of the new year, the first of January in Korea is a relatively important holiday. Although according to Korean tradition the real new year begins with the Seollal, which I will mention later, this circumstance is also celebrated in Korea. In fact, many businesses close, even those of greater thickness such as the famous chain of shopping centers Shinsegae. A peculiarity present throughout the country is that in every big city, at midnight on December 31st, the most influential personalities of the year (actors, singers, sports champions, etc.) ring a bell of appearance and Buddhist tradition 33 times. The most famous bell is that of Seoul, which is located in Jongno and which takes the name of Bosingak. In Busan, on the other hand, it is located in Nampo-dong, while in Daegu in the downtown area.

Seollal

The first day of the new year according to the lunar calendar , Seollal is one of the two most important national holidays in Korea. The holidays around this celebration usually last around 4 days between late January and mid-February, and it's the time when Koreans get together with families to spend time together. In those days it is easier to see people wearing the traditional hanbok dress, playing games of ancient tradition, following ancestral rites and eating typical dishes, such as a soup named Tteokguk. Also in this period almost all of the commercial activities closed.

Independence day 

This national holiday is celebrated only in Korea and is called "Independence Movement Day" . In Korean it is known as (Samiljeol) . This date refers to the Korean independence movement that on 1 March 1919 organized a great march in protest against the Japanese invasion, which unfortunately was followed by atrocities and violent oppression by Japanese soldiers to the detriment of the Korean people.

Buddha's birthday

Festival of Buddhist origin as the name suggests, like the Seollal and the Chuseok, every year it happens on a different day, between April and May. On this day Buddhist temples throughout Korea are filled with faithful and non-believers. By participating in the activities offered by each place of worship, you can fully immerse yourself in this aspect of Korean culture. Furthermore, for about a week before this celebration, temples and some areas of the city have been decorated with colored lanterns .

Labor Day

As in the West, this holiday pays tribute to the workers, and also in Korea it takes place on May 1st.

Children's day

This holiday, also known by the English name of Children's Day , is celebrated on May 5 , when families allow themselves some time to be with their offspring. Koreans usually go to theme parks, or engage in any activity that allows them to have fun and spend more time with their children.

Parents' day

The Parent's Day in Korea are celebrating the ' May 8 . On this occasion, events dedicated to parents are organized or participated in.

Teachers' day

On this day, which falls on May 15 , we celebrate the importance of teachers, who often receive some gifts from their students, such as a bouquet of flowers.

Remembrance day

It is celebrated on June 6 , and is a day dedicated to men and women who gave their lives to defend the country during the terrible fratricidal war that took place from 1950 to 1953, the famous Korean War. On this occasion usually, the streets and some areas of the cities are filled with Korean flags.

Liberation day

This day has very patriotic foundations, as it commemorates the independence of Korea from the Japanese invasion. In fact, on August 15, 1945, the Korean peninsula became independent again after 35 years. Schools and businesses are closed, and Koreans, in addition to showing love for their homeland, are taking a day off to remember all those who have struggled to free the country from unjust oppression. It is celebrated, as mentioned before, on August 15 every year, and also on this occasion the Taegukgi, or the South Korean flag, is hung in various areas of each city.

Chuseok

The Chuseok is along with, and for this the date varies from year to year. Even during this period, Koreans can enjoy a few days off and spend time with their family. Usually the most consumed food during this celebration is the Songpyeon, which is a rice cake that can be of various colors and that can contain different fillings such as sesame seeds, pasta of various types of beans, nuts and so on.

The Chuseok is a festival that was originally used to celebrate the harvest, so it is traditional to perform a rite dedicated to the ancestors named Charye , and go to the tomb of their ancestors, an act which takes the name of Seongmyo. 

Foundation day

With this celebration, which falls on October 3 , we remember the legendary foundation of the ancient kingdom of Gojoseon By Dangun, also a mythical figure of Korean tradition.

Hangul Day

It occurs on October 9 every year and as the name suggests, it recalls the invention of the Korean alphabet (which is a UNESCO heritage) by the sovereign Sejong the Great. This writing system, of which the Koreans are very proud, was created in 1443 and promulgated in 1446, with the laudable intention of giving the possibility to less educated people, who could not read Chinese characters (in Korean, to be able to access culture more easily, to be able to read and write. In fact, at the time, it was the norm to write with characters coming from China, which were more difficult to understand by the people.

Christmas

A festival that in Korean takes the name of, or transliteration of the English word "Christmas", the Korean Christmas obviously does not have the same value as it has in the West. However Korea, compared to other Asian countries, devotes more attention to this event, also given the non-secondary presence of many Christians in the country. In fact, on December 25, some businesses close, and everyone celebrates in a different way, depending on their personal situation.

Other parties

Among other not national holidays, but still interesting, we can find the day of St. Valentine's Day, which always takes place on February 14, but unlike the West, women are expected to give something to the men (usually chocolate). The males, on the other hand, will have to make up for March 14, the day known as White Day, when they will have to give some snacks such as candy or similar to the girls.

Finally, I would like to point out Pepero Day, which falls on November 11th. On this day it is fashionable to buy the famous chocolate sticks called Pepero, which recall the shape of the number 1. It is no coincidence that this festival falls on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, precisely 11/11.

What do you say then? Korea is full of unique holidays, and others similar to those we are used to. One of the ways you will have to experience them will be to spend time here during these days, and only then will you be able to truly understand the meaning of the various national holidays in Korea.