This day is called "sinjeong" in Korean. Although people exchange seasonal greetings and cards on January 1, it is not considered as important as the Korean traditional New Year's Day by the lunar calendar, which has long been used in Korea.

This most significant traditional holiday of the year lasts for three days including a day before and after "seollal," which is Korean traditional New Year's Day. Seolnal is the first day of the first lunar month, which usually falls on around late January or early February by the solar calendar. On the New Year's morning, families gather to the eldest member's, wearing traditional dress (hanbok) and hold an ancestor memorial service (charye), serving traditional dishes that are specially prepared for ancestors. Rice cake soup (tteokguk) is a traditional main dish for this holiday. "Sebae" is another important custom on seolnal. Families and friends wish each other good luck for the new year, giving big bows. Traditional games for this season include "yut" games, kite flying (yeonnalligi), and Korean sea-saw (neolttwigi).

This day, "samiljeol" in Korean, commemorates the independence movement that occurred throughout the nation in 1919 against the Japanese colonial rule.

On the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, people celebrate the birth of Buddha. This lunar day usually falls during May by the solar calendar. On the eve, street parades with multi-colored Buddhist lanterns are seen along the major streets in the city, while other bright lanterns shine in all temples holding people's wishes. This day is called "seokga-tansinil" in Korean.

This day is the happiest day for children as they are provided with special events and gifts from their school, relatives as well as parents. "Eorininal" is the Korean name for this day.

On this day people look back upon the memory of late soldiers during the Korean War (1950-1953) with respect and affection. Government and many other organizations hold memorial services for the war dead on the day. Especially, they will hear the siren blowing at 10 a.m. on every June 6 everywhere in Korea. The siren represents that it's time to pay a one minute silent tribute to the war dead. The Korean name of this day is "hyeonchungil."

This day is to celebrate Korea's regaining political independence from the Japanese rule that lasted for 36 years from 1919 to 1945. Many events, including parades and fireworks, take place throughout the nation on this day, which is called "gwangbokjeol" in Korean.

"Chuseok" is another family-get-together occasion almost as big a traditional holiday as Lunar New Year's Day. The holidays are also celebrated for three days including a day before and after chuseok. Traffic congestion should be expected on all highways since everyone heads for their hometown with gifts for their parents and siblings. On this harvest festival morning, an ancestral ritual service (charye) is offered with fresh harvest crops and fruits in almost all families. Indispensable to the festival menu is "songpyeon" a rice cake, which is stuffed with chestnuts, sesame, or beans and steamed on pine needles to add fragrance.

The progenitor of Korean people, Dangun, is believed to have founded this country in 2333 BC. This day, called "gaecheonjeol " in Korean, is commemorated with celebration ceremonies for the foundation day of Korea.

As in many other countries of the world, this day gives a very festive mood to everybody, especially to young people. They exchange cards and gifts and have parties. Churches prepare special events for the public as well as religious services for their congregation.