{"id":1839,"date":"2012-01-19T05:02:19","date_gmt":"2012-01-19T05:02:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/korean\/?p=1839"},"modified":"2014-08-27T20:06:23","modified_gmt":"2014-08-27T20:06:23","slug":"korean-lunar-new-year-traditions-and-zodiac-animals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/korean\/korean-lunar-new-year-traditions-and-zodiac-animals\/","title":{"rendered":"Korean Lunar New Year: Traditions and Zodiac Animals"},"content":{"rendered":"

As the holiday season is quieting down in the Western world, the Eastern world is gearing up for Lunar New Year. Although Koreans celebrate both Solar and Lunar New Years, Lunar New Year is one of Korea\u2019s most important traditional holidays. Traditional holidays are called \uba85\uc808<\/strong> (transliteration: \u201cmyeong jeol\u201d). In our previous blog article, we discussed that Lunar New Year is called \uc124\ub0a0<\/strong> (transliteration: \u201cSohl-nahl\u201d), with the literal meaning roughly translating to, \u201cnew day\u201d.<\/p>\n

\uc124\ub0a0 is a three-day public holiday in Korea; public holidays are called \uacf5\ud734\uc77c <\/strong>(transliteration: gonghyu- il). The holiday begins on \uc124\ub0a0 eve; this year, \uc124\ub0a0 lands on January 23rd<\/sup>.\u00a0 The 2012 three-day holiday will be from January 22nd<\/sup> to January 24th<\/sup>. Most Korean business are closed on \uc124\ub0a0 eve and day, as most of Koreans travel to visit family members and elders. This is the busiest travel time of the year in Korea.<\/p>\n

Will you celebrate<\/em> \uc124\ub0a0? If so, what are your plans? (Note: Next week, I will write about how I celebrated <\/em>\uc124\ub0a0!)<\/em>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Many Korean businesses give \uc124\ub0a0 calendars to their employees and customers; most of these calendars include both the solar and lunar cycles. Today, Korea abides by the solar calendar; but some traditionalists rely on the lunar calendar to determine birthdays, etc. In Korean, the (Gregorian) solar calendar is called \uc591\ub825<\/strong> (transliteration: \u201cyang nyeok\u201d), and the lunar calendar is called \uc74c\ub825 <\/strong>(transliteration: \u201ceum nyeok\u201d).<\/p>\n

As \uc124\ub0a0 approaches, Koreans enjoy festive d\u00e9cor donning the zodiac animal associated with the new year. This year, 2012, will be the year of the dragon; the fifth animal in the zodiac cycle. The dragon symbolizes courage, change, and hope! The \uc591\ub825 has 12 zodiac animals; each animal represents a year, in a 12-year cycle.<\/p>\n

The 12 zodiac animals in the \uc74c\ub825, in cyclic order:<\/strong>
\nRat (\uc950<\/strong>, jhi)
\nOx (\uc18c<\/strong>, soh)
\nTiger (\ud638\ub791<\/strong>\uc774<\/strong>, ho-rang-i)
\nRabbit (\ud1a0<\/strong>\ub07c<\/strong>, toki)
\nDragon (\uc6a9<\/strong>, yong)
\nSnake (\ubc40<\/strong>, behm)
\nHorse (\ub9d0<\/strong>, mahl)
\nSheep (\uc591<\/strong>, yang)
\nMonkey (\uc6d0\uc22d\uc774<\/strong>, won-soong-i)
\nRooster (\uc218\ud0c9<\/strong>, soo-tahk)
\nDog (\uac1c<\/strong>, gae)
\nPig (\ub3fc\uc9c0<\/strong>, deh-ji)<\/p>\n

Most Koreans, when asking for your age, will ask you for your birth year. But, it can be fun to ask, \u201cWhich zodiac animal were you born under<\/strong>?\u201d Here\u2019s how to say it in Korean, \u201c\ub2f9\uc2e0\uc740 <\/strong>\ubb34\uc5c7 <\/strong>\uc870\ub514\uc545 <\/strong>\ub3d9\ubb3c <\/strong>\uc544\ub798\uc5d0 <\/strong>\ud0dc\uc5b4 <\/strong>\ub0ac\uc8e0<\/strong>?\u201d (transliteration: \u201cDahngshi neun myo jodia dongmuhl nahdeh tay-oh nah-jho?\u201d)<\/p>\n

So, “\ub2f9\uc2e0\uc740 \ubb34\uc5c7 \uc870\ub514\uc545 \ub3d9\ubb3c \uc544\ub798\uc5d0 \ud0dc\uc5b4 \ub0ac\uc8e0?”<\/p>\n

Look at the chart below to determine your birth year\u2019s zodiac animal. And remember, if you were born in January or February\u2014you will have to reference the \uc74c\ub825 to see when \uc124\ub0a0 began during your solar birth year. For example, if you were born on January 1st<\/sup>, 1990, you are a snake.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Many Koreans plan matchmaking, weddings, and childbirth around a particular zodiac animal year. The Year of the Dragon is supposedly a luck-filled year, especially for childbirth! If you would like to know more about the 2012 Dragon Year predictions, The Korea Blog explained it wonderfully, here: http:\/\/bit.ly\/zc9IEO<\/a>. I enjoyed reading about the symbolic significance of dragons in Buddhism, Korean culture, and Korean art!<\/p>\n

I hope you have a wonderful Lunar New Year, and a prosperous Year of the Dragon! \u201cHappy New Year!\u201d\/\u201c\uc0c8\ud574 \ubcf5 \ub9ce\uc774 \ubc1b\uc73c\uc138\uc694!\u201d (transliteration: \u201cSay hey bok mahn ee bahd euh sae yo!\u201d)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

As the holiday season is quieting down in the Western world, the Eastern world is gearing up for Lunar New Year. Although Koreans celebrate both Solar and Lunar New Years, Lunar New Year is one of Korea\u2019s most important traditional holidays. Traditional holidays are called \uba85\uc808 (transliteration: \u201cmyeong jeol\u201d). In our previous blog article, we…<\/p>\n

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