A lunisolar calendar is a calendar in many cultures whose date indicates both the moon phase and the time of the solar year. If the solar year is defined as a tropical year then a lunisolar calendar will give an indication of the season; if it is taken as a sidereal year then the calendar will predict the constellation near which the full moon may occur. Usually there is an additional requirement that the year have a whole number of months, in which case most years have twelve months but every second or third year has thirteen.The Julian and Gregorian Calendars are solar, not lunisolar, because their dates do not indicate the moon phase — however, a lunisolar calendar is used in the determination of the Christian celebration of Easter.
A lunar calendar is a calendar that is based on cycles of the lunar phase. The only widely used purely lunar calendar is the Islamic calendar or Hijri calendar, whose year always consists of 12 lunar months. A feature of a purely lunar year, on the Islamic calendar model, is that the calendar ceases to be linked to the seasons, and drifts each solar year by 11 to 12 days, and comes back to the position it had in relation to the solar year approximately every 33 Islamic years. It is used predominantly for religious purposes. In Saudi Arabia it is also used for commercial purposes.
Most lunar calendars, except the Hijri, are in fact lunisolar calendars. That is, months are kept on a lunar cycle, but then intercalary months are added to bring the lunar cycles into synchronisation with the solar year.
• The traditional Korean calendar is a lunisolar calendar which, like the traditional calendars of other East Asian countries
• The Gregorian calendar was officially adopted in 1895.
• The traditional holidays and age-reckoning for older generations are still based on the old calendar.
• The biggest traditional festival in Korea today is celebrated on the lunar calendar
• The Sino-Korean word "jeol (절)” means 'the great holiday', and is only used for National Celebration Days in South Korean law. The word "il (일)" is for the names of general commemoration days.
1. NEW YEAR'S DAY
신정(Sin-jeong)
• January 1 of every New Year.
• Public Day Off ( 공휴일)
• National Flag “Taegukgi (태극기)” Raising Day
2. Korean New Year's Day
설날(Seol-nal)
• 1st day of 1st lunar month
• 03 Public Day Off ( 공휴일) .
• Also called "Seol(설)" or "Gujeong(구정, 舊正)". The first day of the lunar Korean calendar.
• It is the most important of the traditional Korean holidays, and is considered a more important holiday than the New Year's/ solar New Year's Day.
• 03 Public Day Off ( 공휴일).
3. Independence(Declaration) Day
절(Sam-il-jeol)
• March 1
• Public Day Off ( 공휴일)&National Celebration Days (국경일)
• National Flag “Taegukgi (태극기)” Raising Day
• This day commemorates the March 1st Movement in 1919 when the Korean people declared their nation's independence from Japan.
• It was a catalyst for the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea(April 13, 1919).
4. Children's Day
어린이날(Eo-rin-i-nal)
• May 5
• Public Day Off ( 공휴일)
• The day on which to esteem the personalities of children and plan for their happiness.
• Children's Day started on May 1, 1922, when 8 persons including Bang Jeong-hwan declared the Day and held an anniversary.
• In 1946, the Day changed to May 5, and became a public holiday in 1975.
5. Buddha's Birthday
석가탄신일(Seok-ga-tan-sin-il)
• 8th day of 4th lunar month
• Public Day Off ( 공휴일)
• Also called "BucheonnimOsinnal (부처님오신날)" or "SawolChopail (사월초파일). The birthday of the Gautama Buddha.
• Buddhism is the one of two major religions, with Christianity.
6. Memorial Day
현충일(Hyeon-chung-il)
• June 06
• Public Day Off ( 공휴일)
• National Flag “Taegukgi (태극기)” Raising Day
• The day commemorates men and women who died while in military service or independence movement.
• It was originated from the traditional customs of Mangzhong, one of the 24 solar terms. On this day, national commemorating ceremony is held in National Cemetery.
7. Constitution Day
제헌절(Je-heon-jeol)
• July 17
• NoPublic Day Off ( 공휴일)&National Celebration Days (국경일)
• National Flag “Taegukgi (태극기)” Raising Day
• The day celebrates promulgation of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea in 1948.
8. Liberation Day
광복절(Gwang-bok-jeol)
• August 15
• Public Day Off ( 공휴일)&National Celebration Days (국경일)
• National Flag “Taegukgi (태극기)” Raising Day
• The day celebrates national liberation from Japan in 1945.
• On this day, Emperor Shōwa announced surrender and World War II was ended.
• On the same day of 1948, the government of the Republic of Korea was established.
• The word "Gwangbok" means "restoration of light".
9. Harvest Festival
추석(Chu-seok)
• 15th day of 8th lunar month September
• 03 Public Day Off ( 공휴일)
• Also called "Han-gawi (한가위)". Korean traditional Harvest Festival.
• With Seollal, it is one of the most important Korean traditional holidays.
• As a celebration of the good harvest, Koreans visit their ancestral hometowns and share a feast of Korean traditional food.
10. Armed Forces Day
국군의날(Guk-gun-eui-nal)
• October 01
• No Public Day Off ( 공휴일)
• National Flag “Taegukgi (태극기)” Raising Day
• The day recognizes, venerates, and honors military forces of the Republic of Korea.
• In 1950, during the Korean War, South Korean Forces broke through the 38th parallel on October 1.
11. National Foundation Day
개천절(Gae-cheon-jeol)
• October 03
• Public Day Off ( 공휴일)&National Celebration Days (국경일)
• National Flag “Taegukgi (태극기)” Raising Day
• The day celebrates the foundation of Gojoseon, the first state of Korean nation.
• According to SamgukYusa, Dangun founded Gojoseon on the 3rd day of 10th lunar month, 2333 BCE.
• Today, South Koreans are celebrating their national foundation on October 3 in solar calendar.
• For convenience sake. "Gaecheonjeol" means "Heaven-opened Day".
12. Hangul Day
한글날(Han-geul-nal)
• October 09
• No Public Day Off ( 공휴일)&National Celebration Days (국경일)
• National Flag “Taegukgi (태극기)” Raising Day
• The day commemorates the invention (1443) and the proclamation (1446) of hangul, the native alphabet of the Korean language.
• Koreans are proud that Hangul is a very scientific and creative artificial alphabet.
• One of the most recent and official writing systems ever created.
• King Sejong the Great, inventor of hangul, is the best honored ruler in Korean history.
13. Christmas Day
성탄절(Seong-tan-jeol)
• December 25
• Public Day Off ( 공휴일)
• Christmas is commonly called "Seong-tan-jeol (성탄절)" in Korean(especially among Christians).
• Official Korean name fixed by law is "Gidoktansinil".
• In South Korea, Christianity is the one of two major religions, with Buddhism.
