May is the best month in Korea for gatherings - the weather is warm and sunny but not too hot, and the air is just starting to clear up from the yellow dust and pollen of early spring - so it’s no wonder that May also happens to have a series of holidays dedicated to families too!

Children’s Day - May 5th

Children’s Day (어린이날) is actually considered one of the most important family holidays in Korea; children are the future after all! It’s classified as a ‘red day’ ( a public holiday that everyone gets off work) because it’s seen as important that kids get a break from the stress of studying and parents get to spend time with their children. Typically families will visit zoos, amusement parks and/or go for a picnic at the local park or beach due to the nice weather.

The celebration of Children’s Day started in the 1920s and was originally held on May 1st, but was moved to May 5th in the 1970s as it overlapped with Labor day. 2022 actually marks the 100th celebration of Children’s Day in Korea!

Parent’s Day - May 8th

Another family holiday that many parents look forward to is Parent’s Day (어버이날), held on May 8th. In Korea, Mother’s Day & Father’s Day aren’t separated and unfortunately this is not considered a public holiday, but some companies do offer this day off to working parents. On Parent’s Day it is customary for children to give their parents carnation flowers and other small gifts. Typically young children will make paper carnations at school to present to their parents which fills the parents with a sense of pride from seeing their efforts.

The reason carnation flowers are given on Parent’s Day is because they represent respect and gratitude; red carnations are used when both parents are still alive, pink when one parent is alive and white if both parents have passed. You may also see many Koreans with carnations pinned to their chest.

Teacher’s Day - May 15th

A somewhat interesting holiday held prominently in Korea is Teacher’s Day; at a glance this may seem out of place as a ‘family’ holiday but many teachers play a similar role to parents, guiding, teaching and protecting students while they are in their care. Like Parent’s Day, Teacher’s Day is unfortunately not a red day, however students do make it a point to show their appreciation in various ways.

Most commonly, classes will present teachers with hand written letters, white carnations and candy expressing their appreciation for their teacher guiding them throughout the year. However there is a little controversy around gift giving because monetary gifts can be classed as bribery under Korean law, so typical gifts are inexpensive and given in groups, or are indirect such as hanging ‘Thank You’ banners around the school.

Family in Korean Culture

The three family holidays held in May are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to family oriented traditions in South Korea, there are many more holidays such as Chuseok and Sollal that are typically spent with family too. This strong focus on family within Korean culture stems from the influence of Confucian teachings that melted into Korean culture during the Joseon Dynasty and have been carried down throughout the centuries. It’s believed that a family’s duty is to care for and protect one another, and it’s not rare to see two or three generations of a family living together in one home in Korea.

How does the attitude towards family in Korea differ to those within your culture, and how does your country celebrate family? Leave us a comment on the Kooky App or our social media telling us all about it!

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Writer: Han (O.L)

Editor: Han (O.L)

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