Author Archives: Hailey Cho

Seollal (Korean New Year)

Text:

Seollal is the first day of the Lunar New Year in Korea. On Seollal, you bow to your elders, play games, and visit your hometowns. Seollal(설날) is the Korean New Year, usually falling in mid-February. It is one of Korea’s biggest holidays, with many people taking several days off of work to spend time with families. Often, people travel back to their hometowns or visit family members/in-laws. There is also a ritual called sebae(세배), where people bow deeply before their elders and wish them a happy new year and good fortune, and in turn the elders give them money in envelopes.

Context:

The informant, having lived in Korea their whole life, participated in Seollal every year. At first, they were the ones to bow to their elders and receive money, but as they grew older, they began to be the ones to sit as their younger family relatives bowed.

Interpretation:

There is a lot of emphasis on filial piety, and more than that, respect for your elders and your ancestors. For example, you lay out food for your ancestors at the table or a memorial/shrine. I feel like there is a major emphasis on Confucian piety in Korean culture, as well as a reminder of the strength found in community. When you bow to your elders on Seollal, it is more than a bow–you are literally on your knees, head on the ground, essentially showing utmost reverence and respect for the elders’ wisdom and impact on your life. You(as the younger person) have the responsibility to visit your hometown, your origin, not the other way around, showing the idea that you never truly leave your family behind, which is a foundational concept in Confucianism. Through this practice, families reaffirm their connection to the past and show gratitude and respect to their ancestors and elders.

Foods like tteokguk (rice cake soup) are essential to Seollal. Eating tteokguk is believed to symbolically grant one a year of age, connecting food rituals to the passage of time. Furthermore, traditional clothing like the hanbok and folk games like yutnori also play a role, reinforcing cultural identity and intergenerational learning. This latter point is especially important; as Korea quickly evolves to match the demands of modernity, many traditional aspects of Korea’s culture are at risk of disappearing or losing their value. By participating in holidays such as Seollal, families are teaching the future generation the importance of remembering their history and culture.

Piñata

Text:

“Whenever there’s a kids birthday party, we get a piñata with candy in it and have the kids strike it down to get candy. So a piñata gets hung up and one of the adults swings it around as kids try to bring it down with a stick. The kids take turns starting from youngest to oldest, with the idea being that they don’t want the piñata to break too quickly, so the older kids who are most likely to break it go last. Once the piñata breaks, everyone runs up to the candy and grabs them.

Context:

The informant simply participated in this as a kid, and learned that this is something that just happens at birthday parties, and is something to look forward to.

Interpretation:

The piñata plays a central role in gatherings such as posadas, birthdays, and other social events. The communal act of breaking the piñata—surrounded by singing, cheering, and sharing treats—encourages group participation and the sharing of joy/laughter. This reflects the highly valued concept of communitas, interdependence, and festivity with those close to you. Furthermore, a child’s birthday is not seen as a quiet, private event, but something to be shared with the whole community to experience.

I find it interesting that although the piñata originated in Latin America, it spread to other cultures around it. For example, I personally did not grow up in a Hispanic or Latin household; however, I distinctly remember going to other people’s(also non-Hispanic) birthday parties and breaking the piñata, as well as having a piñata at one of my own birthday parties. I feel like this is a prime example of how a culture can travel, and have other cultures adapt aspects of it while also sprinkling some of their own traditions.

Reyes Mago

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“Basically it’s in early January and it’s supposed to symbolize when the 3 kings came and gave gifts to baby Jesus. The kids get gifts and a big dinner is held–Basically if ur kid you just get gifts and food, but if ur d enough you have to eat from a ‘rosca‘. The ‘rosca‘ will have little plastic babies hidden within, and if you end up pulling one, you now owe everyone else there a party where you’ll host dinner. This is done until all the babies are found. Kids can participate too, but their parents are responsible for throwing the party.”

Context:

The informant has participated in this since they were a young child.

Interpretation:

The celebration commemorates the biblical journey of the Magi—also known as the Three Kings—who brought gifts to the infant Jesus shortly after his birth. This religious narrative ties the holiday closely to Christian traditions, particularly Catholicism, which has been a dominant spiritual and cultural force in Spain and many Latin American countries. Furthermore, Reyes Magos centers on children, highlighting innocence, hope, and continuity. Families often gather for a special meal, share the Roscón de Reyes (a sweet bread with hidden figurines), and spend time together; this family-centric structure underscores kinship and tradition in Hispanic cultures, and emphasizes the importance of treasuring children, reinforcing communal bonds, and intergenerational continuity. And, by celebrating figures from a distant, symbolic past, Reyes Mago helps elevate storytelling, moral lessons, and myth as powerful forces of social cohesion to teach the next generation.

Miyeok Guk (Seaweed Soup)

Text:

Seaweed soup is traditionally eaten every year on someone’s birthday. Historically, seaweed soup was eaten by mothers who were about to give birth or just had given birth, as a way to boost their iron levels in their blood–seaweed has exceptional levels of iron. This would help the mother’s body heal or prepare for the birth, as at the time it would be dangerous, with high mortality rates.

Context:

The informant has eaten seaweed soup every year for their birthday; not only have they eaten it every year, they also learned how to make it from their mother.

Interpretation:

Because miyeok-guk is traditionally consumed by women after childbirth due to its rich nutrients like calcium, iodine, and iron, and belief that it helps with recover and milk production, the soup is now closely associated with mothers, maternal care, and birth. I assume that it is eaten on people’s birthdays(regardless of whether they are or plan to become mothers) as a way to honor the mothers who gave birth, recognizing the sacrifices that one’s parents–especially the mothers–make. Beyond its symbolic meaning, miyeok-guk is also a regular part of everyday meals due to its nutritional value and accessibility. This highlights Korea’s traditional food culture, which often views food as medicine—a concept rooted in hanbang, or traditional medicine that reflects the often health-oriented approach to food in Korean society.

On a personal note, for many Koreans, whether they live in Korea or are part of the diaspora, miyeok-guk can evoke a strong emotional pull for family, home, and heritage–many have grown up eating it together with their families–serving as a cultural anchor and linking personal identity with tradition.

Hongsam (Red Ginseng)

Text:

Hongsam is an herbal tea made from the root of a red ginseng plant. It is supposed to raise your body temperature, giving you energy and improving blood circulation, and getting rid of infections/illnesses and boosting natural immunity.

Context:

The informant grew up with their own mother giving hongsam to them. As Korea began to modernize, they began to see hongsam change from a medicinal herbal tea to more widespread consumption types(tea, capsule, powder, and even candies)

Interpretation:

Hongsam is very popular among today’s generation in Korea. I personally think this is an interesting phenomenon, as many other traditional medicinal practices are usually met with skepticism and a growing mistrust, or are simply dismissed as pseudo-medicine/treatment. However, unlike some traditional remedies that have declined in popularity, hongsam has sustained and even increased its status due to both cultural trust and the Korean government investing heavily in researching and standardizing ginseng products, showing a blending of traditional knowledge with modern science. The industry is both a point of national pride and a strategic economic sector. Its success reflects Korea’s broader tendency to commercialize and globalize cultural assets—turning tradition into a competitive modern product, much like K-pop or Korean cosmetics. It also shows how wellness has been integrated into consumer behavior.