Chuseok is sometimes referred to as the ‘Korean Thanksgiving’, ‘Hangawi‘, ‘Jungchujul‘, or ‘Gabe‘ and is celebrated on the brightest full moon of the year, which occurs on the 15th day of the eighth month on the lunar calendar, landing somewhere between September to early October on the solar calendar. Unlike Western society, Koreans still use the lunar calendar for important dates, so a lot of their holidays are centered around the moon and its cycle.

2013 년에 추석은 9월 13 일 이에요

.(In 2013, the holiday will be celebrated on September 19th. Chuseok is essentially a

celebration of a good harvest, as it’s around this time that grains and fruits will be at

their ripest and freshest for harvesting).

한 해의 성공적인 농사를 축하하며, 가족들은 모두 선물을 싸서 .고향 옥은 본가로

향해 가요.거기에서 모두 한북을 차려입고, 맛있는 음식을 만들고.조살들 에게 경의를

표합니다.

(To celebrate a year of successful farming, families will all pack up and head home to

their ancestral hometowns and ‘bon-ga‘ (directly translated to ‘main house’, but it’s

usually the home of the oldest or head of the household, e.g., grandparents, parents),

where they’ll dress up in traditional clothing, cook delicious food, and pay their

respects to their ancestors.)

Songpyeon 송편 is one of the representative food items of 추석, and it’s made from the newly harvested rice. It’s essentially a small, crescent-shaped rice cake that contains either red beans, chestnuts, jujubes, powdered sesame, or just brown sugar.When you make the 송편, you make a wish as you scoop in the contents and carefully fold it up into a crescent shape so that your wish doesn’t fall out.

Hangwa한과

송편

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Secondly ‘sungmyo’성묘: Respect must be paid to the grave, often in the form of bowing before it and offering alcohol, fruits, meat, and shikhye.

.

Chuseok isn’t simply just a feast celebration, as there are three major duties that must be completed:Firstly there is ‘bulcho’ 벌초: Weeds and such that have grown around the graves of family members all summer long must be picked and discarded.

•THIRDLY, “CHARYE” 차례: AN ELABORATE TABLE SETTING OF FOOD OFFERED TO THE ANCESTORS AT HOME.THERE IS SEVERAL METICULOUS STEPS TO SETTING THIS UP AND DOING IT PROPERLY, LIKE LIGHTING THE CANDLES BEFORE THE ALCOHOL IS POURED IN EXACTLY THREE DIFFERENT CUPS AND BOWING TWICE AFTER IT. EACH DISH ALSO HAS A SPECIFIC ARE OF THE TABLE IT NEEDS TO GO ON.

TABLE IS SET FOR-ANCESTRAL WORSHIP

• The first thing to do is put your left hand on top of your right hand.Put your hands on your chest (do not change the positioning of your hands).

• Bend your left leg first, then bend your right leg.Put your palm and you elbows to the floor and keep that pose for 5 seconds or so.

• Then you stand up with your left leg first, then your right leg.Finally, you bow then it is all over (with respect).

Firstly, put your right hand on top of your left hand.

Put your hands on your forehead (do not change the positioning of your hands).

Bend your left leg first, then your right leg.

Put your right foot below your right foot and sit down on your foot.

Then bend your body 45 degrees forward and then put your elbows and hand on the floor.

After 5 seconds or so, stand up right leg first then bow (with respect).

Hanbok is the traditional Korean clothing worn during Chuseok.

The clothing is very loose and comfortable

The top part of the garment is called the “jeogori” 저고

리 which is worn by both males and females

The males wear pants called “paji” 바지 while the females wear a skirt known as the “chima” 치마.

Once all the tasks are completed, it’s time to play. These games are outdated and families will normally gather to just chat and drink after dinner or play go-stop, but they’re still often put on display at public events. Other sports such as wrestling, tug of war, and archery are also played. The night usually ends with thetraditional folk dances such as “Ganggangsullae”( 강강술래), which is performed by women dancing under the full moon in a circle, on the night of Chuseok.

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THANK YOU!

감사합니다!