Public
Holidays in Korea*
|
January
1
|
New Year's
Day
|
|
March
1
|
Independence
Movement Day
|
|
April
5
|
Arbor
Day
|
|
May 5
|
Children's
Day
|
|
June 6
|
Memorial
Day
|
|
July 17
|
Constitution
Day
|
|
August
15
|
Liberation
Day
|
|
October
3
|
National
Foundation Day
|
|
December
25
|
Christmas
Day
|
Lunar
Calendar Holidays*
|
|
2000
|
2001
|
2002
|
2003
|
|
Solnal
(Lunar New Year celebration - Seol)
Seol is the Korean Lunar New Year and is celebrated in
much the same fashion as the Chinese Lunar New Year. On New
Year's eve no one is to sleep in order to greet the new year
with alertness and bright-eyedness. Families pay homage to
their ancestors and gods with a table offering on New Year's
Day. After performing the necessary ceremonies to the family
elders, ancestors, and gods, everyone gathers to play traditional
games. On this day an abundant assortment of foods are served
.
|
Feb 5-7
|
Jan 24-26
|
Feb 12-14
|
Feb 1-3
|
|
Buddha's
Birthday (Ch'op'ail)
Ch'op'ail is Buddha's Birthday held on the
eighth day of the fourth lunar month. On this day paper lanterns
are paraded around the local temple during the day and lit
at dusk. Prayers concerning family welfare and Buddha's enlightenment
are said throughout the day. The paper lanterns paraded often
have prayers written on them.
|
May 11
|
Apr 30
|
Sept 10
|
Aug 31
|
|
Chu-seok
(Harvest Moon Festival)
Chu Suk is the Korean Mid-Autumn Moon Festival which is celebrated
on the fifteenth day of the eighth month. It is a holiday
for rejoicing in one's "bountiful abundance". On this day,
whole families travel to their ancestor's burial sites where
memorials are held honoring past family members. Then a great
feast is held giving thanks for the harvest.
|
Sept 12-14
|
Oct 1-3
|
Sept 21
|
Sept 11
|
*Check
your local contacts for holiday schedules and closed banks, businesses
and government offices.
|
