List of Korean traditional festivals
Korean Traditional Festivals are the Korean national and local festivals that have been continued among Korean people throughout its long history. Korean traditional festivals are largely based on its agricultural rituals and myths. "Seollal, New Year's Day" and "Chuseok, Harvest Festival" are regarded as the biggest festivals.
Festivals in Summary: Events, Date, significance and Food
- All traditional festival dates are in accordance to the lunar calendar.
| Festival | Significance | Events | Date | Food |
| Seollal | New Year's Day | Sebae, Charye, Yunnori | 1st day of first month | Tteokguk, Yakwa |
| Daeboreum | First full moon | Geuybulnori, Daljip Taeugi, Aengmagi Taeugi | 15th day of first month | Ogokbap, Yaksik, Bureom, Gwibalgisul |
| Meoseumnal | Festival for servants | Singing, Dancing, Coming-of-age ceremony | 1st day of second month | Songpyeon |
| Yeongdeungje | Celebrating the god of wind | Jesa | First day of second month | Regular food for Jesa |
| Samjinnal | Celebrating the coming of spring | Archery, Cockfighting, Fortune telling | 3rd day of third month | Hwajeon, Dugyeonju |
| Hansik | Start of farming season | Visit to ancestral grave for offering rite, and cleaning and maintenance. | 105 days after Dongji | Cold food only: Ssuktteok, Ssukdanja, Ssuktang |
| Chopail | Buddha's birthday | Lantern festival, hanging lanterns up and visiting the temple | 8th day of fourth month | Different types of Tteok, Dumplings, Special dishes made of fish |
| Dano | Celebration of spring and farming | Washing hair with Changpo, Ssireum, swing, giving fans as gifts | 5th day of fifth month | Variety of Tteok, Herb rice cakes |
| Yudu | Water greeting | Bathing and washing hair to get rid of bad luck | 15th day of sixth month | Noodles |
| Sambok | Hottest day of the summer | Hot dishes are made on this day. Cold baths are believed to make people weak. | Between sixth and seventh month | Samgyetang |
| Chilseok | Meeting day of Gyeonwoo and Jiknyeo in Korean folk tale | Fabric weaving | 7th day of seventh month | Miljeonbyeon, Milguksu |
| Baekjung | Time with hundred of fruits' and vegetables' seeds | Resting, Performing rituals | 15th day of seventh month | Food made of potato, flour, and wheat along with a variety of wild vegetables |
| Chuseok | Harvest festival | Charye, Ssireum, Visiting ancestral grave sites. | 15th day of eighth month | Songpyeon, Torantang |
| Jungu | Double Ninth Festival | Danpung-nori | 9th day of ninth month | Gukhwajeon, Eoran, Yujacheong |
| Sangdalgosa | Ritual performed to the House gods | Performing a ritual to the house gods, Coiling a golden rope around the House, Spreading a layer of red clay on the floor | Tenth month | Different types of Tteok |
| Sondolpoong | Ritual performed to appease the wind | Usually boatmen and fishermen perform Jesa for Sondol | 20th day of tenth month | Regular food for Jesa |
| Dongji | Winter Solstice | Rites to dispel bad spirits | 11th month | Patjuk |
| Seotdal Geumeum | New Year's Eve | Cleaning up the house, Preparing for Seollal | Last day of the year | Food for the next day, Seollal |
Festivals by Lunar Month
1st Month
- Daeboreum
2nd Month
- Meoseumnal
- Yongdeungje
3rd Month
- Samjinnal
4th Month
- Hansik
- Chopail
5th Month
- Dano
6th Month
- Yudu
- Sambok
7th Month
- Chilseok
- Baekjung
8th Month
- Chuseok
9th Month
- Jungu or Jungyangjeol
10th Month
- Sangdalgosa
- Sondolpoong or Sonseokpong
11th Month
- '''Dongji
12th Month
- Seotdal Geumeum