Seollal morning is red and coral and saekdong. The mood is not the muted persimmon of autumn 추석. It is the bright saturated palette of a new year, of children pouring into a grandparent's living room, of a matriarch in the deepest jewel tone in the family. The photograph taken that morning is the family photograph of the year.
Hanbok is the dress of 설날, and the sebae bow is the reason the cut still matters. What follows is the register for the day: what children wear, what adults wear, why the deep New Year bow needs a chima and not a pencil skirt, and how Korean American families think about ordering hanbok in time for late January.
The sebae bow
The central ritual of Seollal is sebae, the new year bow. Younger family members bow deeply to elders and offer wishes for health and good fortune. The elders respond with words of blessing and a small gift of money in an envelope called sebaetdon.
For sebae you need to kneel. This is one reason hanbok is so well-suited to the day, the cut accommodates the deep bow easily. Western trousers and pencil skirts often do not.
What children wear
Korean children love Seollal because of the sebaetdon money and because they get to wear hanbok. Children's hanbok for Seollal is brighter than ceremonial sets, with saekdong sleeves and primary colors. Boys often wear a small jokki (vest) over the jeogori. Girls often wear pink, coral, or magenta chima with a contrasting top.
See Eric's children's hanbok.
What adults wear
Adult Seollal hanbok skews more conservative than children's. Muted reds, dusty rose, sage, dove grey. The full traditional set is more common at Seollal than at Chuseok, because Seollal carries more ceremonial weight in many families.
If you are celebrating in the US
Korean-American families in the Bay Area typically celebrate at home or at a community center. Many Korean churches and the Korean Center of San Francisco host Seollal events with food, games, and tteokguk. Hanbok is welcomed; not everyone wears it, but if you do, you will fit right in.
Order at least 4 weeks ahead
Seollal hanbok orders peak in November and December. Plan for at least 4 weeks of production from Seoul plus inspection time in San Mateo. See the Chuseok and Lunar New Year collection.
Talk to Eric
Looking for authentic hanbok for your occasion? Eric at The Korean In Me works personally with each customer, sources every piece from Seoul, and inspects it in San Mateo before it ships. Send Eric a message or text (707) 718-3579.