Every year, on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, Koreans celebrate Chuseok (추석). It is one of the biggest and most important holidays in Korea, alongside Seollal (Lunar New Year). But what is Chuseok?
At its heart, Chuseok is the Korean harvest festival, a day to wish for a bountiful harvest and give thanks to ancestors for the plentiful crops. It is also known as 한가위 (Hangawi).
The holiday spans three days—the day before, the day of, and the day after Chuseok—creating a long break for the entire nation. In this post, I’ll talk about how Koreans celebrate this special Chuseok Korean harvest festival.
The “Great Migration” of Chuseok
During Chuseok, families and relatives gather at their gohyang (hometown), which is usually their parents’ or grandparents’ homes. In my case, we all meet at my grandmother’s house in the countryside.
This large-scale movement of people heading to their hometowns causes heavy traffic on the highways and is often called the “great migration.” Train or bus tickets must be booked weeks in advance to secure a spot. Even though the journey is long and tiring, Koreans look forward to it, packing gifts and heading home with excitement.
Many people wear 한복 (hanbok), Korea’s traditional clothing, during Chuseok. However, since hanbok can be inconvenient, not everyone wears it, though children are often dressed up in it because they look so adorable.
Key Chuseok Traditions (성묘 and 차례)
Chuseok traditions are centered around family and ancestors.
One of the key Chuseok traditions is 성묘 (seongmyo), where families visit the graves of their ancestors to pay respects and offer food and drink. Before this, nearby family members often take care of the graves by clearing overgrown weeds, a process called 벌초 (beolcho).
Another common practice is 차례 (charye), where families perform ancestral rites at home. This involves preparing a large table full of freshly harvested rice, fruits, and other dishes as a sign of gratitude to the ancestors. However, in recent years, many families have simplified or skipped this practice due to the complicated and labor-intensive preparations involved. My family, for instance, focuses more on the gathering itself and has never participated in a formal charye.
Chuseok is also a time for families and relatives to gather, share stories, and enjoy traditional games. My family enjoys simple games like 제기차기 (jegichagi) (a game similar to hacky sack) and 윷놀이 (yutnori) (a traditional board game). Other traditional activities like 널뛰기 (neolttwigi) (Korean seesaw), 강강술래 (ganggangsullae) (a circle dance), and 씨름 (ssireum) (Korean wrestling) are part of Chuseok traditions, though it’s rare to play them ourselves nowadays.
A Feast of Traditional Chuseok Food
Of course, Chuseok wouldn’t be complete without a feast of Chuseok food.
One of the most well-known Chuseok foods is 송편 (Songpyeon), a type of rice cake. It is made from rice powder and filled with sweet ingredients like red beans, sesame seeds, or chestnuts.
The symbolism of Songpyeon is very important. The rice cake is shaped like a half-moon, not a full moon. This represents the idea that, like a waxing moon, the family’s future will only grow brighter and fuller. There is also a famous old saying that “if you make beautiful Songpyeon, you will have a beautiful daughter.” Families gather to make Songpyeon together, chatting as they work.
Of course, there are so many other delicious foods! Every household prepares a variety of dishes, such as 전 (jeon) (savory pancakes) and 갈비 (galbi) (grilled ribs), and we all eat to our hearts’ content. My family especially loves a dish made of skewered pork and kimchi, which is my favorite holiday food.
Since the holiday is filled with rich and plentiful food, many people end up with stomachaches once Chuseok is over. I’ve experienced this a few times myself, so now I try to take it slow and enjoy the food in moderation.
The Modern Chuseok
➤ As families have become smaller and daily life busier, many of these traditional Chuseok traditions have become more simplified. Some people now use the long holiday to travel abroad instead of visiting family. The ways in which people celebrate What is Chuseok are becoming more diverse to suit their own situations.
Personally, I still enjoy spending Chuseok with all of my relatives. The memories of holidays spent at my grandmother’s house in the countryside are some of the happiest moments from my childhood.
