The first two days of the year are officially designated as holidays.

 But before Korea adopted the Julian Calendar like the west, Koreans have traditionally considered the Lunar New Year's as the start of the new year.

 This day they observe the traditional ceremony, ChaRye ( giving thanks to the ancestors that have passed away ) the first thing in the morning. After that, they visit their elders and other relatives and bow and reciprocate well-wishing remarks.

 It is also a time when children get to receive considerable amount of pocket money. Juniors will start the new year by bowing to his or her seniors. This bowing involves crouching to one's knees and placing the head on to the ground to wish the seniors a healthy and prosperous new year. In return, the juniors almost receive token sum of money.

 Together with Korean Thanks Giving Day (Aug. 15, in the lunar calendar ), this is the day that the most traffic jams occur in the highways and other free ways, due to the Koreans returning to their homes.