Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous New Year!
To celebrate the New Year, I made tteokguk (Korean rice cake soup). I added some dumplings I had made earlier, and it turned out so delicious.
In Korea, eating tteokguk on New Year’s Day has deep traditional and symbolic meaning.
Growing a year older
It’s believed that when you eat tteokguk at the start of the New Year, you officially become one year older. That’s why adults often ask, “How many bowls of tteokguk have you had?” to jokingly ask someone’s age.
The symbolism of white rice cakes
The sliced rice cakes in tteokguk are white, symbolizing purity and a fresh start—beginning the New Year with a clean heart and renewed spirit.
Long and round rice cakes
Garaetteok (the rice cakes used for tteokguk) are long and round, representing wishes for long life and never-ending prosperity. When sliced thinly, they resemble coins, symbolizing wealth and good fortune.
A traditional holiday dish
Tteokguk has long been served on ancestral ritual tables during Lunar New Year, expressing gratitude to ancestors and marking the moment when families gather to welcome the New Year together.
So tteokguk is more than just a dish—it’s a special food that symbolizes new beginnings, growing older, good fortune, and longevity 🍲
Since it carries such meaningful symbolism, I hope everyone gets a chance to enjoy a bowl!
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Comments (1)
Love this explanation! The part about adults asking "How many bowls of tteokguk have you eaten?" to check your age is so funny and cute 😂. The symbolism of purity and prosperity really makes it such a meaningful tradition. Happy New Year!