Holidays and traditions of South Korea
January 1 (day off) – New year.
March 1 (day-off) – Samil day, Day of the independence movement.
5 April (day off) – Day of the tree dedicated to the restoration of forests in the country.
1 may – labour day.
May 8 – parents Day.
May 5 (day-off) – children’s Day.
June 6 (day off) – Day of memory of victims for the native land.
17 July (day-off) – Constitution Day in honour of the proclamation of the first Constitution of the Republic of Korea in 1948
August 15 (day off) – the Day of liberation, celebrated in honor of the completion of the Japanese occupation in 1945.
3 October (closing day) – national Foundation Day, celebrated on mount Manisan in Gangwon-do.
October 9 – Hangeul Day (Korean alphabet).
December 25 (day off) – Christmas.
Korea lives by the Gregorian calendar, but the traditional festivals are celebrated according to lunar.
In mid-January – the feast of the snow on mount Halla (Jeju-do). The end of January – beginning of February – feast of Salt (non-working day) is a celebration of the New year according to the lunar calendar. It is one of two major holidays in Korea, celebrated on the first day of the first lunar month. Koreans visit their “Cohen”, all gather with their families, young people ceremoniously congratulates senior, receiving in return small gifts, often money. Early morning is the ceremony dedicated to the ancestors, consisting of a series of greetings before the altar with food, then lunch and visiting relatives. The celebration is accompanied by dances and folk games, visiting the graves of ancestors and other ceremonies. At this time the Koreans take a vacation for a few days, and many commercial enterprises closed. At the end of January in Hwachon (Gangwon province) is a Festival of mountain trout Hwachon. Other fish festival – a feast of fish-boats the Inja. It runs from 2 to 15 February in the lake district Sancho in Namen.
Festival of traditional liquors and rice cakes in Gyeongju is held in late March. In early April, Koreans traditionally visit temples, famous for its blossoming cherry trees. At the end of April held a culture festival Anjana in honor of General Yi sun sin, a festival of Endange, or “miracle of Moses” on Jindo island. Buddha’s birthday (eighth day of the fourth lunar month, April – may) accompanied by large celebrations in all the churches of the country, with numerous ceremonies and the decoration of the churches with thousands of paper lanterns. A huge parade is held these days in Seoul. On the first Sunday of may is a Confucian ceremony at the Royal tomb of conme (Seoul). May 14 is celebrated as teachers Day. Also in may at the water’s Edge held a festival dedicated to king Sejong, Seoul, Sungkyunkwan Academy – Confucian sokjong the ceremony (this ceremony takes place in October in the major Confucian shrines, the hyangga and the seowon Korea), the festival of Chunhyang (Korean Romeo and Juliet) takes place in Cangallo and ancient Namwon (eighth day of fourth lunar month). The wild green tea festival is held in the vicinity of the temple of Sanguesa (Hudon) from 8 to 11 may. At the end of may in Cochonne festival “my” – clothes made from “Rami” (Chinese nettle).
Shaman holiday tan-O takes place in may-June in Gangneung. Punam festival is held in chonju and Tano. At the end of may – beginning of June takes place the Festival of traditional martial arts and Chungju.
In mid-September festival is held in Kasane ginseng and celadon festival in Cangene. At the end of the month – festival of ceramics in Incheon, the international film festival in Busan, the international festival of costumed dance at the Andong festival and Korean traditional music in Nangi. At the end of September – early October, a Festival of the arts Cachon in chinju On the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month (September – October) is celebrated the most important traditional Korean holiday – it’s thanksgiving (harvest festival). Koreans flock to his native land to visit his family and the graves of their ancestors, while also holding all take a vacation for a few days.
October is the month when it is customary to admire the red leaves of maples in Seoraksan, and in most national parks. In Korean it’s called “Typhoon” and is a really amazing sight. In mid-October there is a festival market Jagalchi in Busan and the kimchi festival in Gwangju. In addition, throughout the month the Festival is held in the kalbi Savona, the festival of traditional cuisine of namdo (folk village Revolver), “festival of Baekje, Buyeo and Gyeongju” festival of culture of Silla in Gyeongju, the international MIME festival in Chuncheon festival of folk singing, look no further than the festival of culture in Uruk and Chungju, the Festival of the maples in Nagasena, shamanic Kut celebration in Songnisan, Algardia ceremony in Gangneung Confucian scholar in honor of Yulgok, etc. International biennial of contemporary art held every two years in Gwangju (October – November).
