A Full Moon Holiday, Chu-Seok

Chu-seok is one of the most important holidays in Korea. Chu-seok is often recognized as the Korea version of Thanksgiving Day. Chu-seok is the day of August 15 by the lunar calendar, and therefore falls in September 25 by the solar calendar this year. Many people return to their hometowns to celebrate and socialize together, so the government decided to make holidays including days before and after Chu-seok. During the Chu-seok, Koreans give thanks and show their respect for nature and for family ancestors.

Song-pyeon is a kind of the rice cakes and the traditional food of Chu-seok. At the day before Chu-seok, all families get together to make Song-pyeon. New rice is used to make moon-shaped rice cakes with a sweet filling such as sweetened sesame seeds, chestnuts, and beans. The dough is then steamed with pine needles, which add unique fragrance to this food. There is a saying that if you can make the pretty shape of Song-pyeon, you will have pretty daughter. Other foods of Chu-seok are newly harvested rice, taro(like potato) soup, Kim-chi, fish, new fruits and vegetables, and all of the fall season.

Cha-rye is a ritual ceremony to show respect for family ancestors. In the morning of the Chu-seok, some people dress in Han-bok, the traditional clothing of Korea, and other people dress in nice clothes. Then, the descendants gather at their homes to hold Cha-rye in the honor of their ancestors. Families make a formal bow of gratitude. After the Cha-rye, the family members sit down together at one table to enjoy some delicious foods.

Chu-seok is the day we can see the biggest full moon of the year. At night, most of people enjoy a traditional pleasure to go outdoors and pray hope on full moon. After this some people enjoy Gang-gang-sul-lae, which is the traditional game in Chu-seok night. People hold hands and dance in circles, singing “gang-gang- sul-lae”. The song starts to be slow initially, and then it comes to be quick little by little. Also the dance follows the song and becomes faster.

I will for the first time have Chu-seok in USA. I will miss this traditional customs and foods on the Chu-seok day. On that day night, I will look at the full moon even here, and wish for health and happiness of my family and friends.