Cultures all over the world celebrate a harvest festival, or ‘Thanksgiving’ of sorts at some time throughout the year. Autumn is a popular season as many crops are harvested/planted during this time. In many cultures, it’s customary to celebrate the harvest and wish well on the harvests yet to come. In South Korea, this takes place over a three-day period called Chuseok (추석) or Hangawi (한가위). This year, Chuseok is recognized as September 10th, but the public holiday stretches from September 9th to the 12th. During this time, family and friends celebrate by gathering and sharing in various traditions – everything from foods to rituals and games.
Food has always been a reason for people to gather for celebrations. Food is used as a way to keep traditions alive and preserve culture. South Korea is no different, even the placement of dishes and the way that it is served carries meaning. Called Charye (차례), this ancestral memorial rite involves the preparation of special dishes placed in an arrangement as an offering to generations who came before. These placements of dishes vary based on region, depending on the food available or favored by the region.
Some traditional Chuseok foods consist of Songpyeon (송편), Hangwa (한과), and Tteokguk (떡국). Songpyeon is a small rice cake that is often filled with everything from red beans to sesame and chestnuts. BTS created some of these songpyeon during a special Chuseok-themed “Run BTS!” Episode (Episodes 22&23). Hangwa is a sweet often found in cafes or weddings, translated Hangwa means ‘Korean confection.’ Of this treat, there are eight different types, ranging from fruit-based, nutty, or honey flavored. Tteokguk is a soup dish with a meat broth base and rice cakes, traditionally served during New Year’s as well.
Popular drinks to have on Chuseok are Makgeolli (막걸리), Sujeonggwa (수정과), and Bokbunjaju (복분자주). Makgeolli, the oldest Korean rice drink, is a sparkling wine made from rice that is milky in taste and appearance with a tangy and bitter taste. BTS have drunk Makgeolli on a few filmed occasions, including V-Lives and most recently on “BTS In The Soop.” Sujeonggwa is a cinnamon persimmon punch, variations include different fruits and pumpkin on occasion. Bokbunjaju is a berry wine made from fermented Korean black raspberries that is often paired for drinking with food.
Several traditional games are also played for Chuseok, ranging from smaller to larger scaled events. If you've seen the aforementioned Chuseok special of “Run BTS!,” then you know of the game called Yut, or Yutnori. It is a board dice game played with (usually) wooden sticks that have flat and round sides. Based on the landing of the sticks the board pieces are moved and the team that moves all four pieces around the board first wins. The game itself is a popular Korean folk game, with roots in divination rituals, and is often played on New Years as well. Juldarigi (줄다리기) is another popular game that can often be played by whole towns. A large game of tug-of-war, it is believed to be a determiner (via the winning team) whether the year's harvest will be plentiful.
(Credit: V-Live “RunBTS!” Episode 22)
During Chuseok, often traditional dress – Hanbok – are worn. There is a special Hanbok which is worn on the holiday. The men tend to have a more simple design, whereas the women often have intricate patterns with detailed stitching or beading and tassels.This is yet another way that Koreans honor their culture and heritage during the holiday.
It is recommended, if traveling for this holiday, to plan in advance. Traveling around South Korea, traffic tends to be very heavy, so prepare to wait a while. As with most holidays, the number of people going to visit family or vacation increases thus does the traffic. Also note, that if you are to make reservations to make them well in advance as places tend to start booking up to three months in advance. If you are willing to brave the roads to travel there are a few popular places that many flock to during Chuseok. During the holiday, there are often discounts at the five Palaces of the Joseon-era royal residence. While many places are closed during the holiday, there are a few malls in Seoul that stay open for any desired shopping trips, as well as popular restaurant chains and venues.
Chuseok has a rich history with a plethora of cultural significance. The importance of family and honoring traditions is strong within the people of South Korea, and this holiday is one prime example. Similar to American Thanksgiving, Chuseok is a time to spend with family, enjoying food, and preparing for the year to come ahead. Until next year, Happy Chuseok!
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Written By: Skylar
Edited By: Aury
Checked By: Shelley
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