Seollal Korean New Year Gathering: Charye, Sebae and Seating

Seollal is the Korean New Year, and it falls on the same day as Lunar New Year and Tet, Feb 6, 2027. In many families it means three generations in one house, elders in hanbok, a bowl of rice cake soup, and kids waiting for New Year money. Chicago has a large Korean community, with shops and restaurants along Lawrence Avenue and in the suburbs. The holiday asks a house to do several things in a few hours, so layout matters.

Customs differ by family, region and religion. Some families hold charye, and others do not. Use what fits your home.

Charye, the ancestral table

Charye is a memorial ritual held on the morning of Seollal, to honor ancestors. Foods are laid on a table in a set order, which differs by family and region. Common rules are that rice and soup go near the front, fruit and rice cakes follow in rows, and a photo or name tablet sits at the back. Many families follow guides handed down in the family.

Plan for:

• A table big enough for the dishes, about a 6-foot table for a typical spread
• A cloth, simple and clean
• A clear space for the family to bow in front
• Candles or incense if your family uses them. Check your building rules first.

If you are not sure what your family does, ask the oldest relative. A table plan from them saves time.

Sebae, the New Year bow

Sebae is the deep bow younger family members give to elders on New Year morning. The person bows with a wish for health, and elders respond with words of blessing, and often with sebaetdon, New Year money. Children often wear hanbok. The custom needs floor space and a soft surface.

A 6 by 6 foot clear area lets two or three people bow side by side. Add a thick mat or a rug, because bowing on hard floor is hard on the knees, especially for older guests. Elders can sit on chairs or cushions. In a Chicago apartment, clear a living room by moving the sofa and coffee table to the wall for the morning.

Tteokguk and the New Year meal

Tteokguk is a soup of sliced rice cakes in beef or anchovy broth, and eating a bowl is said to add a year to your age. Other dishes vary, and often include jeon, japchae, galbi, dumplings called mandu, and fruit. Many families serve tteokguk first, then the rest.

For a family of 12 to 20, you need bowls for the soup, side plates and spoons and chopsticks. Count 1 soup bowl, 2 small plates and a spoon and chopsticks per guest. Soup holds heat, so choose bowls with a wide base. See how many plates per guest and family style serving ware.

Low tables or regular tables

Many Korean homes eat at low tables on the floor. Many families in Chicago have dining tables and chairs, and many have both. Here is how to choose:

Many hosts use regular tables for the elders and a low table for the kids, which also frees the middle of the room for yut nori. A rule of thumb is 2 feet of table width per adult, so an 8-foot table seats 8 and a 6-foot table seats 6. Check banquet table sizes for details.

Yut nori and games

Yut nori is a traditional board game played with four wooden sticks, thrown to move pieces around a board. It is played on a mat or a table, with two teams and lots of cheering. A mat about 3 by 3 feet is enough, and a sturdy table works too. Some families also play jegichagi, a kick game, or hwatu card games.

Put games where they do not collide with the meal. A corner with a mat, a few cushions and a small table keeps kids happy while adults finish eating. For a family with many kids, see kids tables and chairs for events.

What most hosts find out too late

• Shoes and floors. Many families go barefoot or in socks. Plan a shoe rack, a mat at the door and a floor you can wipe, because boots track in snow and salt in a Chicago winter.
• Counts change on the day. Relatives bring relatives. Order a few more chairs than your headcount, and keep a stack folded in a closet.
• Rental dates around Feb 6 fill fast. Lunar New Year, Tet and Seollal share the date, so ask early. We check the date with the rental companies for you.

Plan your Seollal gathering

For other Korean family celebrations, see Korean doljanchi first birthday planning and Korean pyebaek table setup. Then get a quote with your guest count, or book a free 15-minute planning call. One call covers tables, chairs and linens.