Korean New Year, also called Lunar New Year or Seol-Nal, is a three-day celebration filled with festivities, colorful decor and rich traditions. On the Lunar New Year, Koreans of all ages gather to honor each another and their ancestors. If you're planning a Lunar New Year party, choose bold, brightly colored decorations and traditional Korean symbols for luck, health and wealth.
Give your home a thorough cleaning a day or two before the festivities begin. Go through your possessions and give away or throw out things you don't need. Koreans traditionally use Lunar New Year as the time to get a fresh start for the upcoming year.
Fasten a long string on the wall or above a doorway with tape or tacks. Set out squares of colorful paper. When guests arrive, encourage them to write their wish for the new year on a square of paper. After writing a wish, guests can fold the paper and hang it on the string.
Put up decorations featuring images of cranes, the Korean magpie and the sun. In Korea, cranes symbolize of long life, and the Korean magpie means good fortune. The sun symbolizes a new beginning.
Hang red paper lanterns around your home in key areas, such as the kitchen, living room and porch or patio.
Place colorful lights, such as strings of holiday lights or colored bulbs, around the home and turn them on for Lunar New Year's Eve. On this day, everyone in the home celebrates by staying up all night.
Set out brightly colored paper kites or hang them around your home since it's a tradition to fly kites on Lunar New Year.
Cover the kitchen or dining-room table with a bright-red tablecloth. Set out gold flatware and plates.
Set a bowl filled with tangerines or oranges, which symbolize wealth and luck, on the kitchen table or counter.
Put small red cloth or paper bags on the table, and write words of advice or encouragement on each. Fill the bags with a small amount of money or another treat. Hand out the bags to children who come to your party. In Korea, parents give children these "luck bags" as well-wishes for the new year.
Things You Will Need
- Tape or tacks
- Colored paper
- Korean animal decorations
- Paper lanterns
- Colored lights
- Paper kites
- Red tablecloth
- Gold place settings
- Citrus fruits
- Red cloth or paper bags
- Party favors and treats
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