Korean folk customs and traditions

Korean folk customs and traditions reflect its long history and diverse cultural background. Below are some representative Korean customs and traditions.

1. Seasonal Customs (Seollal and Chuseok)

• Seollal (Lunar New Year): To celebrate the New Year, Koreans perform ancestral rites (charye), bow to their elders (sebae), and eat tteokguk (rice cake soup). Eating tteokguk is believed to add one year to your age.
• Chuseok (Harvest Festival): A major holiday where families gather to honor their ancestors through ancestral rites and enjoy songpyeon (half-moon-shaped rice cakes). Spending time with family is essential during this holiday.

2. Traditional Weddings

• In traditional Korean weddings, the bride and groom wear hanbok (traditional Korean clothing) and the ceremony is conducted in a classical style. The couple bows to each other's families, makes marriage vows, and participates in various rituals to celebrate the union.

3. Funeral Rites

• Funerals in Korea are significant events where family and friends gather to mourn and honor the deceased. People wear mourning clothes, and ancestral rites are performed. The deceased is sent off with respect, often with a procession to the burial site.

4. Indigenous Beliefs

• Korea has its own shamanistic beliefs. Shamans, known as mudang, communicate with spirits through rituals and offer prayers for people’s wishes. In addition, various local folk beliefs are still practiced in different regions.

5. Traditional Games

• Yutnori: A traditional board game where players throw wooden sticks to move their pieces.
• Jegichagi: A traditional game where players kick a shuttlecock-like object (jegi) and try to keep it in the air. It is often played during holidays like Seollal.

6. Food Culture

• Korean traditional foods vary by region, with famous dishes like kimchi, bibimbap, and bulgogi. Special foods are also prepared during holidays and important events.

Korean folk customs and traditions vary across regions and continue to evolve with cultural changes over time.