The representative holidays in the first month of the lunar calendar are "Seol" and "Daeboreum," or Full Moon Day. "Seol" is celebrated with family-oriented ceremonies including "Charye" and "Sebae," while Full Moon Day consists of large-scale community-centered ceremonies such as "Dongje" and "Daedong-nori."

설날아침과 이서지의 연날리기

The Morning of Seol Day	"Flying Kites" by Lee Seo-ji

January 1 of the lunar calendar is called "Seol" in Korean and "Yeonsu" (年首), Sesu" (歲首) or "Wondan" (元旦) in the form of Chinese used by Koreans. There are several interpretations regarding the meaning of "Seol." It may come from the Chinese e-x-p-r-e-s-s-i-o-n "Sinil" (愼日) used to refer to "Seol," which is interpreted as "the day when one must exercise caution in one’s speech or actions." Or "Seol" might have derived from the Korean e-x-p-r-e-s-s-i-o-n "natseolda," meaning "unfamiliar." The notion of unfamiliarity had its origin in religious reverence for "the first hour of the New Year."

설성묘와 설차례

Visiting Ancestral Graves on New Year’s Day in Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do
Charye Memorial Rites in Andong, North Gyeongsangbuk-do

On the morning of "Seol," the "Charye" ancestral rite called "Jeongjo Charye" (正朝茶禮) is observed. After the service all the family members, or "Sebae," bow to one another and share words of blessing, signifying wishes for health and prosperity in the new year.
According to ancient records, "Seol" in Korea has been observed since the Silla dynasty, while in the Goryeo dynasty it was one of the nine important memorial days for commemorating ancestors. In the Joseon dynasty "Seol" was one of the four major holidays, and was considered more important than other seasons or holidays because it marked the start of a new year.
There was a folk custom in which, at the crack of dawn on the first day of the year, people went out into the streets to hear the first sounds of the new year and to have their fortune told. This custom, called "Cheongcham" (聽讖), was practiced all over the country. For example, if one heard the sound of a magpie, it portended good fortune, but if one heard the sound of a crow, it signified bad luck. If a cow was the first beast seen to move, it would be a year of abundance, but if a dog barked first, a year of loss would result from theft. The custom expressed people's expectations for the new year and curiosity about the future.