Chuseok is a way to give respect and gratitude to their ancestors for the blessings that they have received.
What is Chuseok and when does it happen?
Chuseok (추석), also known as the Korean thanksgiving, is a major public holiday in Korea. It occurs on the 15th day of the 8th month in the lunar calendar and is often celebrated for three days. This year, it will take place between September 16 and September 18. Chuseok also commemorates the harvest and Koreans’ thankfulness for their ancestors and the blessings of the earth.
One of the key aspects of Chuseok tradition is a ritual called seongmyo (성묘) where Korean families visit the graves of their ancestors, a way for them to pay respect to their ancestors or the passing is they do a ritual called beolcho (벌초) where they clean their ancestral gravesite. They also do charye (차례) where Korean families prepare a table filled with food offerings such as rice, fruits, vegetables and drinks, like Korean rice wine makkeolli (막걸리) or soju (소주) at their homes often in front of photographs and or ancestral tablets – this gesture is their way to give respect and thanksgiving to the deceased and also ask for continued blessings.
Songpyeon
Songpyeon (송편) is the representative food during Chuseok, it is a type of rice cake that is shaped in half-moon filled with healthy ingredients like sweet red beans, sugar and sesame seeds, pine nuts, honey and sometimes even clams. The name songpyeon was derived from the work “pine tree” – in making this, the rice cakes are steamed over pine needles to get a specific aroma attached to them, making it more special.
Songpyeon making is also part of the traditional activities for Chuseok, usually the women of the house along with the children are the ones who usually do this.
Bringing of Gifts
Coming back home empty handed during Chuseok is a big no, that’s why Koreans make sure to get gifts even before Chuseok. Usually stores offer special boxes designed to fit as a Chuseok gift – usually there are the products you can give to Korean families in case you spend Chuseok with them – boxes of Spam with oil, fruits, beef, cosmetics, and ginseng root or any product that promotes health improvement.
New Chuseok
With the vast lifestyle change and cultural evolvement, some Koreans now just spend Chuseok in different ways some simply gather with family members, while some just travel and take this holiday as a vacation – no matter how we spend the Chuseok holiday let us take it to the heart to always thank and be grateful for the blessings that we have received for the year.
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