Holiday greetings

The classic greeting is 새해 복 많이 받으세요 (saehae bok mani badeuseyo), literally 'Receive lots of good fortune in the new year.' It is used both on January 1 and on Seollal, the Lunar New Year. With friends, say 새해 복 많이 받아 (saehae bok mani bada). It is also the most common New Year text message.

설날 (Seollal) is the Lunar New Year, the first day of the lunar calendar, and one of Korea's two biggest holidays along with Chuseok. Families gather to honor ancestors, bow to elders and eat rice cake soup. Because it follows the lunar calendar, its solar date changes every year. Many people travel to their hometowns.

추석 (Chuseok) falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month and is a major harvest holiday, also called 한가위 (Hangawi). Families gather to make songpyeon rice cakes, hold ancestral rites and visit family graves. It falls around the full moon, so some people make wishes while looking at the moon.

A typical greeting is 즐거운 한가위 보내세요 (jeulgeoun hangawi bonaeseyo), 'Have a joyful Hangawi.' Another common one is 풍성한 한가위 되세요 (pungseonghan hangawi doeseyo), 'Wishing you a bountiful Chuseok.' Simply saying 추석 잘 보내세요 (chuseok jal bonaeseyo) also works. People exchange these on the last workday before the holiday.

세배 (sebae) is the traditional deep bow given to elders on Seollal as a New Year greeting. After bowing, you say 새해 복 많이 받으세요 (saehae bok mani badeuseyo). Elders respond with words of blessing and often give children New Year money. Bowing styles differ slightly for men and women and between families.

세뱃돈 (sebaetdon) is New Year money that elders give to children and young people after they bow on Seollal. It usually comes in an envelope along with words of blessing. Receive it with both hands and say 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida). The amount varies by family, and there is no fixed standard.

덕담 (deokdam) means kind words of blessing for someone's future. After receiving a New Year bow, elders might say something like 'Stay healthy and study hard this year.' When you hear 덕담, reply 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida). Many New Year text messages also include these warm wishes.

Both holidays follow the lunar calendar, which is based on the moon's cycles. That means their dates shift on the solar calendar from year to year. Seollal usually falls between late January and February, and Chuseok in September or October. Check that year's calendar or the official public holiday list for exact dates.

떡국 (tteokguk) is a soup with sliced rice cakes, traditionally eaten on Seollal morning. There is a saying that eating it makes you one year older, so people joke 'How many bowls of tteokguk have you eaten?' to ask someone's age. The white rice cakes are often said to symbolize a clean fresh start. Ingredients vary by region and family.

송편 (songpyeon) are half-moon-shaped rice cakes filled with sesame, beans or other fillings. They are steamed on a layer of pine needles, which gives a subtle fragrance. Families traditionally sit together to make them for Chuseok. There is an old saying that making pretty songpyeon brings good fortune.

명절 잘 보내세요 (myeongjeol jal bonaeseyo), 'Have a good holiday,' works for both Seollal and Chuseok. It is a handy greeting for coworkers or shop owners before the break. 연휴 잘 보내세요 (yeonhyu jal bonaeseyo), 'Enjoy the long weekend,' means something similar. With friends, say 명절 잘 보내! (myeongjeol jal bonae!).

Say 고향 잘 다녀오세요 (gohyang jal danyeooseyo), 'Have a good trip home.' Because holiday traffic is heavy, people often add 조심히 다녀오세요 (josimhi danyeooseyo), 'Travel safely.' The holiday trip home is called 귀성 (gwiseong), and the return trip to the city is 귀경 (gwigyeong).

차례 (charye) is an ancestral rite held on the mornings of Seollal or Chuseok, where food is offered to ancestors. The family bows together and then shares the food. Customs and table settings vary greatly by family and religion, and more households now simplify the ritual or skip it.

성묘 (seongmyo) means visiting ancestors' graves to pay respects and tidy the site. It is especially common around Chuseok. Clearing the grass around graves before the holiday is called 벌초 (beolcho). Families often bow together and share food at the grave, and roads can be busy during this season.

A common year-end greeting is 올 한 해 수고 많으셨습니다 (ol han hae sugo maneusyeotseumnida), 'Thank you for all your hard work this year.' It is especially common at work. Follow it with 내년에도 잘 부탁드립니다 (naenyeonedo jal butakdeurimnida), 'I look forward to working with you next year.' With friends, say 올해도 고마웠어 (olhaedo gomawosseo).

Many Koreans simply say 메리 크리스마스 (meri keuriseumaseu). The Korean phrase is 즐거운 성탄절 보내세요 (jeulgeoun seongtanjeol bonaeseyo), 'Have a merry Christmas.' Christmas is a public holiday in Korea. It is often seen as a day for couples and friends rather than a big family gathering.

Seollal and Chuseok are each usually a three-day public holiday: the day itself plus the days before and after. If the holiday overlaps with a Sunday or another public holiday, a substitute holiday is added, but a Saturday overlap alone does not count. Some shops and attractions close during this time, so check official holiday notices and each place's opening status before traveling.

정월 대보름 (Jeongwol Daeboreum) is the 15th day of the first lunar month, the first full moon of the year. A well-known custom is 부럼 (bureom), cracking nuts like peanuts and walnuts with your teeth. People may also eat five-grain rice and seasoned vegetables. It is not a public holiday, but some regions hold traditional events.

Keep it short: ○○님, 즐거운 한가위 보내세요. 가족과 행복한 시간 되세요 means '○○, have a joyful Chuseok and a happy time with your family.' For Seollal, 새해 복 많이 받으세요. 올해도 건강하세요 (saehae bok mani badeuseyo. olhaedo geonganghaseyo) works well. Including the person's name feels more personal than a mass message.

Many Koreans say relatives ask personal questions at holiday gatherings, about marriage, jobs or grades. This is often called 명절 잔소리 (myeongjeol jansori), 'holiday nagging.' It comes from interest and care but can feel uncomfortable, and people increasingly try to avoid it. A smiling 열심히 하고 있어요 (yeolsimhi hago isseoyo), 'I'm working hard at it,' is a graceful reply.