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Seollal in Orlando: A Guide to Korean Lunar New Year

Seollal is Korean Lunar New Year, one of the biggest holidays of the year in Korea. In 2027 it falls on Sunday, February 7, when families gather for a deep bow to their elders, a bowl of tteokguk and an afternoon of games. Here’s what to know, and how to celebrate Seollal in Orlando.

Crowds walking the palm-lined vendor row

What is Seollal?

Seollal (설날) is the first day of the Korean lunar calendar. It shares a season with Chinese New Year and Vietnamese Tết, but it has its own customs, foods and greetings. In Korea it’s a three-day national holiday, and many people travel home to spend it with family. If you’ve searched for Korean New Year or Korean Lunar New Year, this is the holiday you’re looking for.

When is Seollal 2027?

Seollal 2027 is Sunday, February 7, one day after Lunar New Year in China and Vietnam. That’s not a typo. The lunar year starts with the new moon, and Korea’s calendar follows Korean time. In 2027 the new moon lands just after midnight in Seoul, when it’s still February 6 in Beijing and Hanoi.

How families celebrate Seollal

  • Charye. Many families start the morning with a memorial table of food in honor of their ancestors.
  • Sebae. Younger family members offer a deep, formal bow to their elders and wish them a healthy year. Elders answer with words of blessing, and often a gift of money called sebaetdon.
  • Hanbok. New clothes for the holiday are called seolbim, and many families choose hanbok, Korea’s traditional dress.
  • Games. Yutnori, a board game played by tossing four wooden sticks, is a family favorite. Kite flying and jegichagi, a kicking game, are traditional too.
  • The greeting. Say 새해 복 많이 받으세요 (saehae bok mani badeuseyo), which means “receive many blessings in the new year.”

Seollal foods to know

  • Tteokguk. Soup with sliced white rice cakes in a clear broth. The white rice cakes stand for a clean start, and tradition says you turn a year older once you finish your bowl.
  • Jeon. Savory pan-fried pancakes made with vegetables, fish or meat.
  • Japchae. Sweet potato glass noodles stir-fried with vegetables.
  • Yakgwa and sikhye. Honey cookies and a sweet rice drink to finish the meal.

How to celebrate Seollal in Orlando

Make tteokguk at home

You’ll find sliced rice cakes at Asian grocery stores around town, including Lotte Plaza Market on West Colonial Drive. Make a pot, call the family, and you’ve got the heart of the holiday.

Connect with Orlando’s Korean community

The Orlando Korea Culture Center shares Korean culture through language classes, cooking classes and festivals, including the Orlando Korea Festival, which has been held in December in recent years.

Come to Celebrate Lunar

The Orlando Korea Culture Center has joined us at Celebrate Lunar, and K-pop is part of our main stage alongside taiko, kung fu and lion dances. Our 2027 festival is Saturday, February 27, from 12 to 7 PM at Luminary Green Park in downtown Orlando. The 2027 lineup is coming soon. See more Lunar New Year events in Orlando.

Is Seollal the same as Chinese New Year?

No. They follow the same lunar season, but Seollal is its own holiday, with Korean traditions that go back many centuries. That’s why we use the name Lunar New Year, which includes every culture that celebrates it. Korea also often calls 2027 the Year of the Sheep rather than the Year of the Goat, since the same word covers both animals.

Get your tickets for Celebrate Lunar. 새해 복 많이 받으세요!