Traditional Rites and Rituals

Seollal (Lunar New Year's Day), the first day of the Lunar New Year, and Jeolwol Daeboreum (the first full moon of the New Year) have been the most important traditional holidays of the Korean people from ancient times to today, followed by Hansik (Cold Food Festival, the 105th day after the winter solstice), Dano (the fifth day of the fifth month of the year according to the lunar calendar), and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day). In particular, during Seollal, which was also called ‘an unobtrusive day', or Shinil, people would welcome the first day of the new year with a clean state of mind. As for Jeolwol Daeboreum, which is ‘the day of the greatest and brightest full moon of the year', various events were held to pray for prosperity and peace in the past. Nowadays, however, the meaning of Seollal and Jeongwol Daeboreum has changed somewhat, but the significance of the prayers, wishes, and prosperity has been preserved. The Charye table may differ slightly depending on the region or family. However, the following drawing of Jinseol, which refers to the arrangement of the dishes of food for a memorial service, observes the principles of Eodongyukseo (fish in the east, meat in the west), Jwapowuhye (dried meat or fish in the west, sikhye, a sweet rice drink, in the east), and Joyulyishi (jujubes, chestnuts, pears, and persimmons arranged from west to east).

Seollal Charye Table
※ The above image of a Charye table is a reproduction based on the Jinseol Drawing for Sije (seasonal rite) from Yulgok Yi I's Gyeokmongyogyeol (The Secret of Expelling Ignorance).