Why Is Seollal Gifting Important In Korea?

The creation of gifting is highly weighted successful Korean culture, it symbolizes graciousness and respect wrong nan societal community. Regardless of nan occasion, it is simply a awesome measurement to show thoughtfulness and besides fosters relationships pinch others. During Seollal (설날), aliases Korean New Year, Koreans hole thoughtful gifts to definitive their gratitude towards their family and friends, arsenic good arsenic welcoming a happy caller twelvemonth ahead. Let’s publication connected to find retired what are immoderate gifts prepared during Seollal and why Seollal gifting is important! 

Traditions of Seollal gifting

During Seollal, family members would gather, walk time, bask a plethora of Seollal food, and transportation retired accepted activities too. Seollal gifting is 1 of these activities during Seollal wherever Koreans hole gifts to show their gratitude and respect erstwhile visiting their relatives and friends.

These Seollal gifts are often wrapped successful agleam colors, chiefly hong (홍, red), jeong (정, blue), baek (백, white), heuk (흑, black) and hwang (황, yellow). These colors are intimately associated pinch nan Obangsaek (오방색, 5 elements) and each colour represents luck, hope, innocence, beingness and compassion respectively.

During Seollal, erstwhile Koreans get dressed successful Hanbok (한복, accepted korean outfit), they will prime agleam colors based from nan Obangsaek. However, Koreans do thin to debar achromatic and achromatic arsenic these 2 colors are wide associated successful Jangryesik (장례식, ceremonial ceremony) successful Korea. Instead, donning successful auspicious colors, is said to bring luck, and dream successful nan caller year. 

One very important gift speech etiquette you should observe is that you must usage some hands erstwhile receiving aliases giving a gift to show respect, and this is particularly important erstwhile you’re facing personification older than you. 

Meaningful Seollal gifts

Let’s spot what are immoderate meaningful gifts Koreans springiness during Seollal!

Sebaetdon (세뱃돈), aliases New year’s money

Sebae (세배, bowing to elders) is simply a accepted ritual of devout piety wherever nan juniors kneel down and front profoundly to shake hands their elders pinch nan blessing building “saehae bok mani badeuseyo“ (새해 복 많이 받으세요, dream you person tons of luck successful nan caller year). The elders will past springiness retired Sebaetdon (세뱃돈, caller year’s money) which is kept wrong an letter cover aft nan inferior performs nan Sebae. This acts arsenic nan elders’ blessing for nan juniors, hoping they person a soft twelvemonth ahead, beryllium successful bully wellness and happiness.

Geongangsikpum (건강식품), aliases wellness food

Geongangsikpum (건강식품, wellness food) is simply a accepted prime arsenic it signifies being considerate and wishing for one’s bully health. Hence, It has been a celebrated gift for parents during Seollal. In Korea, Geongangsikpum includes Insam (인삼, ginseng) and Kkul (꿀, honey). Tea products specified arsenic Daechucha (대추차, Jujube tea),  Insamcha (인삼차, ginseng tea), and Yujacha (유자차, yuja tea) and vitamins including multivitamins, Omega-3, and probiotics are besides wide considered arsenic well. These wellness foods not only fortify immunity, and wide health, they are besides cleanable gifts that will convey your emotion and gratitude to your loved ones. 

Gajeongyongpum (가정용품), aliases family products

While Geongangsikpum is a applicable and patient gift, Gajeongyongpum (가정용품, family products) is decidedly a thoughtful and useful gift. Some communal Seollal gifts see toiletry gift sets specified arsenic toilet roll, shampoo and assemblage lavation aliases cleaning gift sets specified arsenic laundry detergent and cleaning wipes. It is said that giving cleaning supplies brings prosperity and bully health.

For immoderate who person a higher budget, electrical atom cookers and massage chairs are impeccable gifts for parents and loved ones arsenic well. 

Eumsik (음식), aliases nutrient / Sul (술), aliases alcohol

More applicable and communal Seollal gifting ideas are composed of Eumsik (음식, food) gift sets specified arsenic Ssal (쌀, rice), Seupaem (스팸, Spam), Chamchi (참치, canned tuna), Ramyeon (라면, Korean instant noodles), Kim (김, Korean dried seaweed), and Gwail (과일, fruits) basket. Meat group specified arsenic dried aliases caller Haemul (해물, seafood), and Hanwoo (한우, Korean beef) are typically talented arsenic well. 

Sul (술, alcohol) is besides 1 awesome gift action which ranges from Yangju (양주, liquor), Baekju (백주, island liquor), Wain (와인, wine) and Makgeolli (막걸리, Korean atom wine). In Korea, it has go a societal norm to see intoxicant arsenic a measurement to observe typical occasions arsenic it helps to enslaved group together aft a small spot of drinking! 

Things you should return statement during Seollal gifting

In a state for illustration Korea wherever being humble and respectful to others are basal successful each generations, retrieve that you should beryllium utilizing some hands erstwhile receiving aliases giving a gift. Additionally, erstwhile considering what presents to prepare, debar thing that is crisp arsenic this signifies cutting disconnected a narration pinch someone. Lastly, try not to prime a gift that is black, achromatic aliases acheronian red successful colour arsenic successful Korean culture, these colors are not arsenic auspicious arsenic those of agleam colors.

In Korean culture, nan creation of Seollal gifting is each astir receiving blessings from family and loved ones, reciprocating their good intentions by putting successful each thought and thought into preparing a gift to wish nan aforesaid for them. 

Undoubtedly, nan much we find retired astir Korean culture, nan much intriguing it gets! For much information, travel the Go! Go! Hanguk blog and consciousness free to interaction us astir surviving and studying successful Korea.