The Chicago Cultural Alliance (CCA) recently had the pleasure of joining the HANA Center for their Lunar New Year celebration, marking the Year of the Fire Horse.
The event began with a vibrant pungmul performance—a traditional folk ritual of percussion, dancing, and singing. We were honored to hear powerful remarks from Joonseok Wee, Deputy Consul General of the Korean Consulate in Chicago, and Danae Kovac, Executive Director of the HANA Center. The Deputy Consul General spoke on how these celebrations foster mutual respect between generations and advance the interests of Korean, Asian, and immigrant communities. Danae Kovac called for a bold 2026, advocating for a world where low-income individuals and people of color can thrive.
The sense of intergenerational community and respect was unmissable during the saebae (세배), a traditional deep bow performed by the younger generation to their elders. During this Sebae, participants wear hanbok — colorful traditional attire — and exchange wishes for a healthy year. In return, elders provide youth with sebetdon (세뱃돈), or New Year money, in colored envelopes & pouches. The hanbok consists of a jeogori (jacket) and chima (skirt) for women, or a jeogori and baji (pants) for men. In Korean culture, hanbok is reserved for special occasions such as the Lunar New Year (alongside other holidays or weddings), and its flowing design represents harmony and grace.
Throughout the day, the CCA and HANA Center communities participated in a range of Lunar New Year activities, including drawing Fire Horses and crafting bokjumeoni (lucky pouches). Making the bokjumeoni was an 11-step process from folded paper, reminding us to think about warm wishes not just for ourselves, but for our family and community. Folding these pouches served as a reflection on the importance of community care and the value of our relationships. As we look toward the year ahead, the HANA Center asks: what wishes would you like to place inside your bokjumeoni?
Happy Lunar New Year and Year of the Fire Horse to all!
You can view photos from OPEN Center for the Arts on our social media @chicagocultural