Discover the Meaning of Chuseok
Chuseok is Koreaโs autumn full moon festival, a time to give thanks for the yearโs harvest, honor ancestors, and share abundance with family and neighbors.
The Meaning of Chuseok
Also known as Hangawi, Chuseok is a meaningful harvest festival that celebrates gratitude for the yearโs bounty and respect for ancestors.
Families travel to their hometowns to hold ancestral memorial services, express gratitude, and share food together.
During the holiday, people visit ancestral graves, tidy them, and spend joyful time with relatives they havenโt seen in a while.
Today, Chuseok continues to embrace its festive spirit with traditional games like ganggangsullae (circle dance), ssireum (Korean wrestling), and even yutnori, a board game enjoyed by all generations.
Chuseok Traditions
Discover the customs that make Chuseok such a special celebration.
Making Songpyeon
Knead half-moon-shaped rice cakes filled with sesame seeds, red beans, or seasonal ingredients, then steam them to perfection.
Charye and Gratitude
Learn about the ancestral rites that express gratitude and honor family roots.
Folk Games and Music
Experience traditional activities like yutnori, janggu drumming, and mini lessons on ganggangsullae.
Scenes of Chuseok in Korea
Homecoming
Highways and train stations bustle as millions travel to reunite with family during the long holiday.
Gratitude
Tables are filled with freshly harvested rice, savory jeon, vegetables, and fruit to express thanks to both ancestors and family.
Festivals
Across cities, traditional performances and cultural experiences invite everyone to enjoy and learn about Chuseok.
How to Celebrate Chuseok
- 1.Host a small gathering or potluck to share songpyeon, jeon, and seasonal fruits while catching up with loved ones.
- 2.Learn the rules of yutnori or watch a ganggangsullae dance video together to feel the festive spirit.
- 3.Express gratitude to family and friends, and make a wish under the bright full moon in the evening.