Shul, the Korean New Year

Traditionally, we have two celebration days in Korea. One is Shul (New Year’s Day) and the other is Chu-suk (a Thanksgiving day). Both of them are important for Koreans, but many children prefer Shul to Chu-suk.

Shul has been a traditional holiday for a long time. It is the first day of the New Year on the lunar calendar. Many Koreans hope to be happy, healthy and succeed in their work.

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On Shul, we wear Korean traditional clothes, remember our ancestors, and have a small celebration for ancestor worship before breakfast. We eat special food made of rice.

After breakfast, we play a traditional Korean game with Korean die or play with kites. We meet many families, relatives and cousins. We have to bow to parents relatives or the elders.

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At that time, the older ones give children some presents like books, socks, or a little money. When I was young, I bought something that I wanted and played with my cousins. With the money which we received we could buy some books, some little toys and go to the movies or the bowling alley. It’s a beautiful memory childhood memory for me.