Chuseok brings Korean families together to share food and stories plus give thanks to their ancestors for an abundant fall harvest. Every year around September 22nd on the Solar Calendar the celebrations last for three days. People travel throughout Korea for hours on end, sitting in stand still traffic for hours on end to reach their final destination. For international travelers this is a prime time to visit the larger metropolitan cities because of the dwindling numbers of Koreans. It is an opportunity to go sightseeing in a nearly crowd-free atmosphere.
Lets take a brief look at Chuseok and what it means to Koreans everywhere. Chuseok also known as, Hangawi is the day Koreans thanked their ancestors for the year’s harvest sharing their abundance with family and friends. Although there is little history of the origins of Chuseok it can be traced back to ancient religious practices centered on the moon’s significance to the culture. Because a full moon appeared once every month it was considered to be a meaningful event and special.
Songpyeon, a type of Korean rice cake is prepared with the year’s fresh harvest on the eve of Chuseok day beneath the full moon. The following morning Koreans visit their ancestral graves known as Seongmyo. Here they give thanks to their ancestors through Charye, a memorial service. After the service families visited their ancestors’ graves engaging in Beolcho, performing the annual clearing of weeds that may have grown over the burial mound. Later in the day usually after dusk families and friends will take walks gazing up at the beautiful full harvest moon. Sometimes they play folk games such as Ganggangsullae, a Korean circle dance.
Songpyeon is prepared with rice or non-glutinous rice powder then kneaded into small golf ball sized dough balls. They are filled with sesame seeds, beans, red beans, chestnuts or other ingredients. Each ball is placed in a layer over pine needles adding a pine fragrance that Koreans find delightful. On the eve of Chuseok the family gathers making songpyeonbeneath the full bright moon. An old saying says the person who makes the most beautiful songpyeonwill attract a good-looking spouse. Therefore all the single-family members try producing the most elegant songpyeon.
Beyond making songpyeon, many Koreans will drink the traditional liquor called Baekju, a white wine. During the holidays it is a time for generosity and thankfulness therefore many Koreans will bond alongside their countrymen by sharing this traditional liquor.
Charye begins on the morning of Chuseok when family members gather at their homes holding memorial services to honor their ancestors. These formal services are held twice a year during Seollal (New Year’s Day) and Chuseok (Late September). During both holidays families consume a special food dish. For Seollalfamilies enjoy Tteokguk,a rice cake soup and for Chuseok, freshly harvested rice. After the Charyeservices families sit down together at the table to enjoy delicious foods that symbolize their blessings to their ancestors.
Seongmyo is when families visit their ancestors’ graves during Chuseok.While attending services at the burial mounds the families partake in Beolcho. Family members join in removing over grown weeds around the burial mounds. This custom is considered a duty, and an expression of devotion showing respect for one’s family. During the month prior to Chuseokmany families will visit their ancestral graves to fulfill their familial duties. During this period many of Korea’s highways become extremely congested with families visiting graves. Then the graves are visited again during Chuseok.
Ganggangsullae dates back to the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) when women dressed in traditaionl Korean clothing, Hanbok.The women would dress up, join hands in a circle and sing together. During the Japanese invasion the Korean army would dress their young women of the village in military uniforms having them circle the mountains making the Japanese think the Korean military was much larger than it actually was.
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