Korean New Year and Harvest Festival for Young Learners

In Korea, many important holidays are based on the lunar calendar, which means their dates change every year. The two most celebrated holidays are Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (Harvest Moon Festival). These special days are all about family, tradition, and showing respect to ancestors.

Chuseok: Korea’s Harvest Moon Festival

Chuseok is a Korean version of Thanksgiving. Families come together to honor their ancestors by gathering around a special table or shrine in the morning. They perform memorial rites, saying thank you to family members who have passed away.

Afterward, families enjoy a traditional meal that includes songpyeon, a tasty rice cake filled with beans, chestnuts, or dates. Children and adults may also play fun games like Gama Fight, where two teams try to capture or knock down the other team’s small wheeled chair. It’s a game full of laughter and teamwork!

Seollal: Korean Lunar New Year

Seollal is another major holiday in Korea. On this day, families eat rice cake soup called tteokguk, which is believed to bring good luck for the coming year. People dress in traditional clothes, bow to elders to show respect, and receive money or gifts in return.

One favorite game played during Seollal is Yut, a board game that uses four special sticks instead of dice. People also enjoy music, dancing, and making promises to be kind and respectful throughout the year.

Learn Through Celebrations

For children learning Korean, discovering holidays like Seollal and Chuseok helps connect language to real-life traditions. At Dinolingo, kids can explore Korean culture through stories, songs, games, and colorful lessons that bring these holidays to life.