Korea Celebrates New Year's by Following Time Honored Tradition
How is New Year's celebrated in South Korea.
In Seoul, equivalent to the New Year’s Party in Times Square in New York, a replica of the Posingak Bell will be rung 33 times at midnight.
The Korea Times notes the bell will be stuck 33 times. The number 33 stands for good fortune in Korea and is meaningful in Buddhism.
The time-honored ceremony will be broadcast live on television for those who prefer to enjoy the party at home, and will also be shown through huge outdoor screens on several buildings near the area.
The Korea Times article explains that the original Posingak Bell is now at the new national museum in Yongsan, Seoul, which was moved on Dec. 20 from its old location in Kwanghwamun. The bell was first used to mark the end of the old year and the beginning of the new in 1953. However, the original ritual dates further back to its construction in 1397 by the order of King Taejo, the founder of the Choson Kingdom (1392-1910).
In the early Choson Kingdom, people celebrated the first day of each year by ringing the bell 33 times in the early morning at 4 o’clock, and 28 times in the evening, representing the 28 stellar bodies in the constellation. The gates of the fortresses around the city of Seoul opened and closed to these tolls.
City officials expect over 100,000 to participate in the South Korea's biggest New Year’s party. Similar to New York's Times Square, the roads in the area surrounding Posingak Pavilion, including Chongno and Anguk-dong will be closed to traffic Friday night, but subway operating hours will be extended to 2 a.m. with Chonggak Station shut down for safety concerns during the event.
In Seoul, equivalent to the New Year’s Party in Times Square in New York, a replica of the Posingak Bell will be rung 33 times at midnight.
The Korea Times notes the bell will be stuck 33 times. The number 33 stands for good fortune in Korea and is meaningful in Buddhism.
The time-honored ceremony will be broadcast live on television for those who prefer to enjoy the party at home, and will also be shown through huge outdoor screens on several buildings near the area.
The Korea Times article explains that the original Posingak Bell is now at the new national museum in Yongsan, Seoul, which was moved on Dec. 20 from its old location in Kwanghwamun. The bell was first used to mark the end of the old year and the beginning of the new in 1953. However, the original ritual dates further back to its construction in 1397 by the order of King Taejo, the founder of the Choson Kingdom (1392-1910).
In the early Choson Kingdom, people celebrated the first day of each year by ringing the bell 33 times in the early morning at 4 o’clock, and 28 times in the evening, representing the 28 stellar bodies in the constellation. The gates of the fortresses around the city of Seoul opened and closed to these tolls.
City officials expect over 100,000 to participate in the South Korea's biggest New Year’s party. Similar to New York's Times Square, the roads in the area surrounding Posingak Pavilion, including Chongno and Anguk-dong will be closed to traffic Friday night, but subway operating hours will be extended to 2 a.m. with Chonggak Station shut down for safety concerns during the event.
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