Korean New Year

High school (ages 12+)
Holidays & Celebrations

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/korean-new-year

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary observance locations?North Korea, South Korea, and global Korean diaspora communities
2. What is the calendar system basis?Korean lunisolar calendar, historically influenced by Chinese calendrical systems
3. What is Seollal and why is it important in Korea?Seollal is Korean New Year, a very special holiday that brings families together and keeps Korean culture alive. It is a time for sharing food, wearing traditional clothes, and honoring ancestors.
4. When does Seollal usually happen each year?Seollal falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice, so it usually lands in January or February. The date changes every year because it follows a lunisolar calendar.

Lunisolar Calendar: A calendrical system that synchronizes timekeeping with both lunar cycles and solar progression, common in East Asian traditions.
Hanbok: Traditional Korean attire characterized by its elegant silhouette and vibrant colors, worn during festive occasions and holidays.
Sebae: A ceremonial deep bow performed by younger Koreans to their elders during Seollal, symbolizing respect and well wishes for the new year.
Charye: A ritualistic ancestral rite performed during Seollal to honor deceased family members, involving offerings of food and drink.