Washington DC families and friends gather for New Years games, food

In Celebration of the Korean Lunar New Year, Seollal, the Korean Cultural Center hosted local families and friends for an evening of Korean games and other new year's traditions this past January. The lunar new year was January 23 this year, but the festivities often continue into February for' communities around the world.

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The highlight of the night was likely a tossup between an 8-team, 40 person tournament of Yunnori, a traditional board game commonly played by Koreans around the lunar new year, and a serving for all guests of tteokguk, the essential new years day soup of beef broth and sliced soft rice cakes. Guests also had the chance to have their picture taken wearing a hanbok and to receive an inscription of a new year's blessing made by calligrapher Kwon Myoung Won.

"Seollal is a very meaningful day for Koreans to get together with the whole family to talk and remind themselves of their roots and source of Korean culture". Said one guest.

Click here to view a gallery of photos from this event on Facebook.

In the spirit of Seollal, KCC Director Nam Jin-soo in his welcoming remarks asked those in attendance to wish each other well for the new year. This, he explained, reflects the importance Koreans place on harmoniously managing relationships.

For many guests, this was also their first exposure to the Korean lunar new year.

"I had no idea about Seollal [before today]", said Vince, one of the Yunnori tournament winners. "I could directly experience how Koreans spend their national holiday through these events".

Before departing, guests also received a bokjumeoni as a special parting gift. This decorative pouch is traditionally given by elders to youths around Seollal, containing a bit of money.

The Korean Cultural Center plans to continue introducing Korean holidays to the American public with special celebrations throughout the year, including for Dano in May and Chuseok in September.

By Mina Do and Adam Wojciechowicz