Chuseok has been called the "Korean Thanksgiving” and there’s a good reason why. It is among the most anticipated and most meaningful holidays in Korea.
Relatives from all over the country - and even abroad - meet up with each other to eat meals and catch up and to pay their respects and thanks to their ancestors. Do you know what day Chuseok falls on in 2015? Chuseok Day falls on September 27. Moreover, many people receive an additional vacation day which falls on September 29. It is an additional day off, which means that many people will receive a 4 day vacation off from work from September 26th- September 29th.
So, what happens on this important day? Well, numerous Koreans are going to pay a visit to their relatives' houses to enjoy a good experience together. Also the days off from work offers an excellent chance to have traditional
cultural food, drink, and practices while in Korea. Want to know more about Chuseok? Here are some of the most popular questions about Chuseok. Read them, and you’ll be an expert in no time!
What is the significance of Chuseok?
Chuseok is among the three main holidays in South Korea. The other two are New Year’s Day - which is called “Solnal” - and “Dano” - which is the fifth day of the fifth month based on the lunar calendar. Chuseok is also called “Han-ga-wi” - translated to “big autumn”.
What are some of the customs of Chuseok?
One of the customs of Chuseok is called Charye, which is a memorial ceremony conducted for a family member’s ancestors. On the calendar day of Chuseok, relatives meet up in the morning with each other at their place of residence to have a memorial ceremony. This is called Charye. Family members do this to pay respect and give thanks to their ancestors. Traditional Charye practices are conducted two times for
every twelve months. One ceremony is conducted during Solnal, which is New Year’s Day according to the Lunar Calendar. Additionally, a second ceremony is conducted during Chuseok. There is a variance between the two practices. When performing the ancestor ceremony on Solnal, the primary cultural food is tteokguk - a soup made from rice cakes. However, during Chuseok the primary cultural food is recently collected rice, alcoholic
beverages and rice cakes. Once the ceremony is over, loved ones take a seat with each other at the dinner table to take pleasure in eating all of the carefully prepared meals .
Beolcho and Seongmyo
Beolcho is another practice observed during Chuseok. This is when family members visit the grave of deceased ancestors in order to remove the weeds around the grave. On this particular day, relatives gather and take away the weeds which may have sprouted up around the graves during
the hot summer months. This undertaking is referred to as Beolcho.
This practice is regarded as a responsibility and a symbolic statement of dedication and appreciation for one’s family. On the weekends, approximately 30 days before the Chuseok holidays, Korea’s highways
turn out to be very crowded with family members going to their ancestral burial sites to accomplish their familial obligations.
Seongmyo refers to the actual visit of the grave during Chuseok. Going to the burial site of deceased loved ones during Chuseok is called Seongmyo.
Korean Wrestling. Ssireum
Ssireum is a traditional sport in South Korea. What happens during this match? There is a large sandpit the shape of a circle. Two opponents face off toward each other and both of them wear special belts around their midsections. Each opponent grabs on to the other’s belt and tries to wrestle them to the ground. It is a battle of strength and skills. In traditional times, the winner was gifted with an ox.
Korean Circlular Dance - Ganggangsullae
On this particular night, females get together and put on a Hanbok. A Hanbok is a traditional Korean coutfit. Then, they link up with their hands in a circular group and sing with each other. This happens on an evening when the full harvest moon shows up or on Chuseok. There are many tales regarding
the beginnings of this practice. One of the most popular tales states that the dance goes back to the Joseon Dynasty. During this time, it is said that the Korean military gathered all of the ladies of the town and put them in army uniforms. Then, they had them walk in a circle around the foothills. This was done to make it appear like the Korean personnel was significantly larger
in amount than it truly was in the eyes of the opposition. As a result, the Korean army experienced numerous victories because of this clever method.
Chuseok Dress
“Bim” means to put on a new dress for either a holiday or special occasion. There are generally two kinds of “Bim”. The first is called “Seolbim” and another is called a “Chuseokbim”. In earlier times, women put on traditional Korean dresses called Hanboks. However, nowadays, most modern familes will forgo this tradition and instead opt for everyday casual wear.
Songpyeon
Songpyeon is among one of the most important meals for Chuseok. This rice cake is made with rice powder which is kneaded into a shape
which is slightly bigger than a ping pong ball. After this, it is stuffed with beans, sesame seeds, chestnuts, or other various healthy foods. Pine needles are included during the steam process to give it a pine aroma. On the night before Chuseok, the whole family gathers together to make songpyeon. A classic Korean anecdote states that the individual who makes the best songpyeon will meet a good parnter or give birth to an attractive
child. It is no surprise that all the single people of a household attempt to make the most beautiful songpyeon.
Liquor
We saved the best for last. Chuseok would not be complete without traditional liquor. During the holiday, relatives get together and have their ancestor ceremonies which include traditional liquor made from rice. After the ceremony is over, the family sits at the table and they all drink the liquor and eat the food.
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