Another reason why Korean ages are different from international ages is because Koreans traditionally have used the Lunar calendar, which calculates time through the phases of the moon. In contrast, Western countries have always used the Gregorian calendar, which calculates time based on the Earth’s revolutions around the sun. Today, Korea officially operates based on the Gregorian calendar. As a result, people celebrate both the Gregorian New Year, on January 1st, and 설달 (Seollal), or the Lunar New Year, which took place on January 29th, 2025!
In addition to cake, almost everyone eats 미역국 (miyeok-guk), or seaweed soup, for breakfast on their birthday. For centuries, Korean women have eaten 미역국 (miyeok-guk) after giving birth, and now people eat the dish to honor their mothers. While seaweed may not sound appetizing to people in the United States, it is an essential ingredient in Korean cuisine. This is because Korea is a peninsula, or a landmass surrounded by water on three sides. As a result, people include seaweed in almost every meal. For example, one of the most common ways to eat meat is by wrapping it in 김 (gim), or dried and salted seaweed, with rice, 김치 (kimchi), and vegetables. In fact, one of my host brother’s favorite snacks is cheesy seaweed chips! Would you try 미역국 (miyeok-guk), or seaweed soup, for breakfast?
