Hanbok for special occasions: weddings, doljanchi, Seollal and Chuseok
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Hanbok is no longer everyday wear for most Koreans, but it still marks the big moments of family life. Knowing which occasions call for it, and the general meaning of the colours involved, helps you dress appropriately when invited and understand what you see.
Weddings
Most Korean weddings today are Western-style ceremonies in a wedding hall, but hanbok still plays several roles:
- Mothers of the couple traditionally wear hanbok to the ceremony. A common custom is for the groom's mother to wear cooler tones such as blue or grey-blue and the bride's mother warm pinks or reds, so guests can tell the two families apart. Colours vary and many families choose freely now.
- Pyebaek: after the main ceremony, many couples hold this traditional greeting for the groom's family (now often both families). The bride and groom change into ceremonial dress. The bride may wear an elaborate robe and headdress, and the groom a formal official's robe. Elders throw dates and chestnuts for the bride to catch in her skirt, a wish for children.
- The couple themselves sometimes wear hanbok for photos or for a fully traditional ceremony.
For guests: you do not need to wear hanbok to a Korean wedding. Smart ordinary clothes are normal. Avoid white, which is associated with the bride, and avoid upstaging the mothers.
Doljanchi (first birthday)
A baby's first birthday, dol, has long been a major celebration. The child is dressed in hanbok, often in bright colours:
- Saekdong: sleeves with stripes of many colours, worn by children for festive occasions. The stripes are associated with wishes for good fortune and protection.
- Boys may wear a small hat or headpiece and a colourful vest or overcoat; girls a little jeogori, a full skirt and a decorated headpiece.
- The highlight is doljabi, in which the child picks one of several objects laid out, each said to hint at their future: thread for a long life, money for wealth, a pencil or book for study, and modern additions such as a stethoscope or microphone.
Parents and grandparents sometimes wear hanbok too, though many families now hold a small dinner or photo shoot in ordinary clothes.
Seollal and Chuseok
Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (the autumn harvest festival) are the two largest family holidays.
- Seollal: children traditionally wear new, bright hanbok, sometimes called seolbim, to perform sebae, the deep New Year bow to elders, after which they receive good wishes and pocket money.
- Chuseok: families gather for food, ancestral rites and visits to family graves. Some wear hanbok for the rites or for a day out.
Plenty of families now celebrate in ordinary clothes, and many adults only wear hanbok for the holidays when there are small children or for a photo. Palaces and folk villages often hold holiday events where hanbok is welcome.
Ancestral rites and mourning
Ancestral rites traditionally call for subdued clothing. Mourning dress in Korea was historically made of plain undyed hemp. Today funerals are usually attended in black Western clothing, and the family may wear armbands or ribbons.
Colours in general
Traditional Korean colour thinking draws on obangsaek, five cardinal colours linked to directions and elements:
- Blue: east, wood, spring
- Red: south, fire, associated with warding off bad luck
- Yellow: centre, earth, historically linked to royalty
- White: west, metal, purity; also the colour of everyday commoners' clothing and of mourning
- Black: north, water
These meanings are a general cultural background, not strict rules. Modern families pick colours they like, and soft pastels are popular for weddings.
Before you dress for someone else's event
If you are invited to a family occasion and wonder whether to wear hanbok, ask the host. Wearing it uninvited to an event where nobody else does can feel like dressing up as a guest of honour.
Have you worn hanbok for a holiday or family celebration? Share your experience, or ask about an upcoming event, in the comments.