This February 3^rd in Korea is the Lunar New Year, which is also known as the Chinese New Year. Lunar New Year is considered the most important traditional holiday where family members, including parents, sons and relatives, gather from different places to celebrate. For many years though, I was only able to call them and wish all of them good luck in the next year because I could not join my family who are in Korea.

Koreans eat tteokguk (tteok means rice cake in Korean), which is a soup with rice cakes, in order to celebrate the Lunar New Year’s. Although the origin is unknown, eating tteokguk has become the tradition for Koreans because tteokguk is believed to bring good luck in the following year and after. The first tteokguk was believed to be made of thinly sliced round garaetteok which a long tube-shaped white rice cake. These characteristics symbolize the cleanliness and longevity. Many people have different viewpoints in the meanings of roundness of the tteok. Some says these round-shaped tteok symbolizes coin; In other words, tteokguk brings wealth to people. Another interpretation is that tteok represents the sun, so by eating the soup, one grows a year older. Unlike the people in United States, every Koreans gain a year on the Lunar New Year’s.

Tteoguk is relatively easy cook. The broth is made by simmering beef, onions, and other kinds of vegetables. Then, the broth must be seasoned with ground sesame seed, black pepper, soy sauce and garlic. When the broth is well seasoned, add sliced tteok or rice cake to the broth and boil it for couple of minutes. And finally, the soup is garnished with thin julienned cooked eggs, marinated meat, and dried seaweed.

In my youth, when I actually did join my family to celebrate the holiday, I remember helping my mom and grandmother cook the soup. As a young child, I always enjoyed dropping the small rice cakes in the boiling broth. The part that I miss the most about this holiday is when all of the family members gather around to eat the New Year’s first meal and share the words of blessing.