The Koreans have a four-day weekend to celebrate the Lunar New Year. It started yesterday Friday and ends on Monday.
If you want to know more about this Korean holiday called Seollal, here’s a youtube video. It’s 2 minutes long.
Until recently, I didn’t know that there was a difference between the Chinese New Year and Korean New Year. I thought that the difference was chiefly semantics and that the celebrations merely varied a bit because of time and geography. But there’s more to this than what meets the eye, and since we’re curious bitches around here, here’s one person’s perspective on the differences. It’s a fun read.
Bringing up the Parks: Seollal is not a Chinese New Year
So how would our kdrama characters greet each other in Seoul? Well, if you happen to meet this squad,
or this couple on the street,
this is the common way to greet them “Happy New Year” —
새해 복 많이 받으세요
Or “Sae hae bok manhi bahdeu se yo.”
새해 = Saehae or New year
복 = Bok or Luck
많이 = Manhi or Many
BTS fans should be familiar with “manhi”. lol.
받으 = Badeu or Receive
세요 = Seyo or Please
Since I don’t speak Korean, these words, “New year,” “luck,” “many,” “receive,” and “please” reminded of the word magnets I used to place on the fridge to play with. I’d rearrange the jumbled words to make a coherent sentence.
Literally, this greeting means please receive many luck on the new year.
Rhetorically, however, I can make a different word salad and address the New Year as an abstract idea. Like this,
New year, please!
Seize much luck.
(or else you’ll suck!)
But interpreted contextually, it’s simply wishing you lots of good fortune and many blessings in the coming year.
Saehae bok manhi bahdeu seyo!!!!
There’s always something new to be learnt here ! Grazie mille cara e felice anno nuovo anche te !
새해 복 많이 받으세요 to you too
Thanks for this information. Love those differences in the Chinese and Korean New Year. So red plays a big part. My favourite colour is red. ☺️
I happened to attend a Chinese New Year dinner last night at a local Chinese restaurant. I had a great time. After dinner, drummers came out and started beating the drums and a gong. Then, a bald man with a big tummy (who’s this? A monk?) appeared, followed by a giant red dragon. They went from one table to another. We were given a red envelope to hand to the dragon. I think I was supposed to put money in it, but I didn’t have cash. (lol. I could hardly give my credit card, right?)
I wasn’t sure if the dragon tried to eat me or kiss me. But when it opened its big mouth around my face, I shoved it away. Rude dragon. 🙂 Was it angry that I didn’t give it a red envelope? Hmmm….
Okay, got to write now about the reunion scene between Seri and JH in Ep 10. Good night to you!
😂 I think that’s what the red envelopes are for but really, who has cash these days too? 😬 I hardly have any unless I go to church. Oh actually at my local parish they’ve put a $2 PayPass machine for donation.
Is it a dragon though or a rat? It’s year of the rat this year. My horoscope said, me being born in the year of the dragon will have money, burning money to be exact. 😂 I think it means lots and lots. 🤔 My Mom and cousin heard it too while watching tv. Anyway I’m not into those. 😄 Sorry, babbling again. I wouldn’t mind experiencing Chinese New Year. ☺️
Have a good day. Laters! 😉
“ Then, a bald man with a big tummy (who’s this? A monk?) appeared, followed by a giant red dragon. They went from one table to another. We were given a red envelope to hand to the dragon. I think I was supposed to put money in it, but I didn’t have cash. (lol. I could hardly give my credit card, right?)”
Is it a dragon or a lion? It’s usually a lion… Dragons look like sea serpents – http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-02/12/137816173_15499777167611n.jpg
Lions look like this https://www.roots.sg/-/media/Roots/ich/social-practices-rituals-and-festive-events/lion-dance/lion-dance.jpg
And yes you’re supposed to hand red envelopes with money in it for the lion to “eat”… to bring you good fortune. Yes they sometimes try to eat humans but I think that’s more of of a gimmick? Part of their act.
It was a lion!!! lol. The costume was operated by two men.
Thanks for clearing that up, nrllee. Happy new year to you! They were saying, “Gung hey fat choy” last night. No rat costume character appeared, though.