Chuseok, Korea, September 19, 2013 (guest post)

Chuseok is often called the Korean Thanksgiving and does share many similarities with the American version. Chuseok began as a harvest festival and the original name, Hangawi, means “the Great Middle” referring to the middle of autumn. Popular belief holds that Chuseok’s roots stretch back to the reign of Yuri Isageum (24 AD – 57 AD), third king of the Silla Kingdom. A month-long weaving contest held between two teams would culminate on Gabae where the winners enjoyed a feast presented by the losers. Scholars also point to the influence of shamanistic traditions of giving thanks to the harvest moon and to ancestors in the development of the holiday.

A national holiday, modern Chuseok is the fifteenth day of the eighth month on the Lunar calendar thus causing it to shift on the Gregorian calendar. In 2013, Chuseok is September 19th. The celebration begins the day before and concludes on the day following. Traditional Chuseok observance includes feasting, playing games, archery, and ssireum (wrestling) contests. In recent years, in South Korea, some of the customs have given way to a more Western approach to family time. 

Koreans return to their hometowns to celebrate with their extended families. On the first evening the family will come together to make and eat Songpyeon (rice cakes, shaped like half-moons, with sweet or semi-sweet fillings) allowing family members to reconnect. The morning of Chuseok begins with preparing a feast to represent an abundant harvest. Traditional hanbok are worn and the family enjoys the feast to honor and accept the blessings of their ancestors. 

Chuseok is also the time for seongmyo (visiting family graves). During this time simple maintenance of the grave site occurs with plants trimmed and debris removed. The family leaves food and drink for their dearly departed. A grave that has not been maintained by the family is seen as disrespectful.

Korean culture is heavy on gift giving. While Chuseok is not a traditional gift-giving holiday it’s not unusual for visitors to bring small tokens. Food is the best choice and supermarkets now offer prepackaged gift sets for the holiday.

Because travel is common during Chuseok, normal modes of transport fill quickly and tickets sell out well in advance. Roadways become congested with cars. Travelers in Korea during this time are advised to avoid these modes of transport if possible. (Subways in major cities are typically empty, though.) Many businesses change their hours during the holiday and cultural centers often have activities specific to Chuseok. 

Special thanks to Keith Kim of Seoulistic (www.seoulistic.com) and Hyunwoo Sun of Talk to Me in Korean (www.talktomeinkorean.com).

Editor Note - I want to thank Darrell for writting this post, he did a great job! This is the first guest post on my blog and I very much hope not that last.