Christmas in Korea
Because Christianity and Western culture are both fairly new in Korea, most of the Christmas celebrations are very similar to those found in Europe and the United States. Popular Christmas traditions include:
Exchanging Christmas cards: Korean Christmas cards are generally less expensive than cards in the United States, and they often have peaceful outdoor scenes, Korean landscapes, or other artwork on them. Most cards will use the phrase "Season's Greetings" instead of "Merry Christmas" in order to appeal to a wider segment of the population.
Church services and pageants: Christian churches in Korea hold traditional evening services on Christmas Eve as well as mass on Christmas Day, which often includes a baptismal service.
Christmas movies: Holiday cartoons and Christmas movies are popular seasonal entertainment in Korea, especially for children and families.
Exchanging gifts: Young children eagerly await the arrival of Santa Haraboji, or Santa Grandfather, on Christmas Eve. Friends and family members may also exchange gifts for Christmas in Korea.
Decorated trees: Not every family in Korea will have a Christmas tree, but those that do will often decorate it with lights and ornaments similar to those found in the United States.
Christmas dinner: A formal dinner is a popular way to celebrate the holiday with family members, though the menu usually includes popular Korean dishes such as sweet potato noodles, rice cake soup, barbecued beef (bulgogi), and spicy pickled cabbage (gimchi).
Public decorations: Because Christmas is a public holiday in South Korea, many businesses such as department stores and other retailers will decorate lavishly to attract customers with seasonal cheer.