Ugh, I really don’t want to get older...

As 2025 begins, it's important to note that in Korea, many annual events have traditionally followed the lunar calendar rather than the solar calendar. The lunar New Year, which is not January 1st but January 29th in 2025 (the date changes each year), is celebrated with large festivities where families and relatives gather to feast on "tteokguk" (rice cake soup) in the morning. Today, regardless of whether it’s the solar or lunar New Year, Koreans enjoy tteokguk on January 1st as a unique tradition.

I fondly remember my childhood when I eagerly ate two bowls of tteokguk, wishing to grow up faster. In the past, it was common for elders to ask younger individuals how many bowls of tteokguk they had eaten to determine their age. While children might feel proud to gain two extra years by eating two bowls, unmarried women may have felt sad at the thought of aging as they looked at the soup.🤣

Long ago, the staple food for Koreans was not rice but tteok (rice cake). People would grind their rice together to make and share tteok. As time passed and the tteok hardened, it became customary to soften it by preparing it in soup, creating tteokguk. Historically, tteokguk was also used in rituals to pray for blessings, and families would share this meal after the ceremonies. This practice was upheld by royals, nobles, and commoners alike. However, the tteokguk we see today is quite different, and its association with age was not as prominent.

So, why do we eat tteokguk at New Year? The answer lies in the LONG rice cakes used to make the soup. (👉 See how to make the long rice cakes) The New Year symbolizes a fresh start, and eating clear soup with white tteok represents a desire for cleanliness and a good year ahead. The color white symbolizes purity and seriousness, expressing the wish to wash away hardships and welcome good fortune. The long tteok served in the soup symbolizes longevity. Tradition dictates that we do not cut these rice cakes after preparing them, so they remain long, representing abundance. They are often cut into shapes resembling coins, symbolizing wealth and prosperity.

Tteokguk embodies the heartfelt wishes of our ancestors who endured hunger and hardship. There are various regional variations of tteokguk (👉 See the recipe for making one), including:

1. Gyeonggi-do Jorengi Tteokguk: In the Gyeonggi region, people enjoy "jorengi tteokguk," which resembles gourds or snowmen. It is made by pressing long rice cakes with bamboo knives.
2. Gangwon-do Mandu Tteokguk: In Gangwon-do, dumplings and rice cakes are added to beef bone broth to create a rich soup with a savory flavor.
3. Chungcheongbuk-do Miyeok Saeng Tteokguk: In Chungcheongbuk-do, seaweed and perilla seeds are utilized in a thick soup with fresh rice cakes known as "saeng tteok,” which are made from hot water and glutinous rice flour.
4. Jeollanam-do Dakjang Tteokguk: In Jeollanam-do, the tteokguk features rich chicken broth topped with soy sauce-braised chicken, offering a deep and savory taste.
5. Gyeongsangnam-do Myeolchi Tteokguk: In Gyeongsangnam-do and coastal areas, "myeolchi tteokguk" is prepared using anchovy broth, seasoned with soy sauce and anchovy paste, often garnished with oysters.

These regional varieties highlight Korea's unique ingredients and preparation methods, each carrying its own flavors and meanings. Tteokguk is not just a delicious dish; it encapsulates the hopes and dreams of our ancestors for a prosperous new year. This tteokguk culture allows us to share stories and enjoy meaningful moments with our families. Celebrating the New Year with tteokguk remains an essential cultural heritage in Korea.✔️