Koreans have a tradition called seol bim 설빔 which is the custom of wearing new clothes on new year’s day.

Bok jumoni or luck pouches hold cash earned from new year’s sebae. Put sebae cash into a luck pouch called bok jumoniīok Jumoni 복주머니 are cute and colorful silk pouches loved by children in Korea. Children hang this small bag on the cloth belt on the waist of their hanbok and use it to put all the money in the bag after bowing to elders on Korean new year’s day. Typically the amount depends on the age of the bower with younger ones receiving less than the older ones.ĥ. When receiving sebae from children, the elders should prepare some cash to give the bowers. Male: Left hand on top of right, right foot on top of leftįemale: Right hand on top of left, left foot on top of right Bonus: when you bow at a funeral, hand position is opposite as that of sebae. There is a correct way to place your hands and feet when bowing Here are 8 things you may not know about the Korean New Year tradition of sebae:ġ. Although details don’t matter as much as the thought and spirit, some readers may be interested in some lesser-known interesting facts about sebae. Sebae is a beloved tradition that is never too late to start in your household. Although Korean people bow to each other every day as a general greeting, the large bow, or keun jeol is reserved for only the most special of occasions, and when performed on new year’s day, it is called sebae. What is sebae? Sebae is a kind of bowing that dates back thousands of years to before the Joseon Dynasty, and is performed as an act of showing respect to one’s elders. There are many wonderful Seollal traditions to experience such as eating delicious tteokguk, wearing hanbok, and playing games like yutnori, but perhaps the one tradition that is most loved and easiest to try is sebae, the unique Korean bow. Seollal (lunar new year’s day) is one of the largest holidays in Korea, and in 2022 it is celebrated on February 1.

Korean lunar new year facts