Chuseok – Korean Mid-Autumn Festival: Meaning and Time of Celebration

1. What is Chuseok? The meaning of Korean Mid-Autumn Festival

Chuseok (秋夕 – autumn harvest) is the term used to refer to the night of the fullest and most beautiful moon in autumn. According to Korean beliefs, Chuseok is the time when they get closer to heaven and earth and their ancestors, creating an opportunity to express gratitude for the bountiful harvest. In addition, this is also the time when people enjoy the sweet fruits of a year of hard work and pray for a favorable new season.

In Korean, chuseok means autumn full moon.

2. Origin of Korean Mid-Autumn Festival

The process of planting and harvesting crops repeats itself in a certain cycle from year to year, similar to the moon's rotation around the earth. This has a very special meaning for a country that values agriculture like Korea. Since ancient times, every year on the full moon of autumn, people would gather to have fun and enjoy the fruits of their labor together.

Chuseok has officially been considered an important festival of Korea since the time of King Yuri (24-27) - the third king of the Silla Dynasty.

3. When is the Korean Mid-Autumn Festival 2023?

The Korean Mid-Autumn Festival takes place on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month every year. This is the time when the moon is at its roundest and brightest. The weather is cool, clear and rain-free, creating favorable conditions for organizing traditional games.

In 2023, the Chuseok festival starts from September 28 and ends on September 30 (solar calendar) . If you want to learn about this cultural beauty, take the initiative to book air tickets to Korea from Bamboo Airways through the official website to enjoy the most preferential prices.

Bamboo Airways operates a variety of flights to Korea during the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival season.

4. Discover typical dishes during Chuseok

An integral part of a complete Korean Mid-Autumn Festival is enjoying traditional flavors such as:

4.1. Baekju White Wine

In addition to the familiar wine Soju, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, Korean people also love Baekju wine. The drink is cooked and brewed by hand from newly harvested rice after the harvest, so it has a very fragrant smell and an unforgettable sweet aftertaste.

In Korea, Baekju wine is extremely popular among the people.

4.2. Songpyeon (or Pineapple Cake)

Songpyeon is an indispensable dish during the Korean Mid-Autumn Festival. From familiar ingredients such as rice flour, sesame leaves, beans, etc., standard Songpyeon has eye-catching colors, elegant pine aroma and delicious sweet and fatty taste.

Songpyeon is an indispensable food during Chuseok.

4.3. Toranguk Taro Soup

A Chuseok holiday cannot be complete without Toranguk taro soup. The preparation is very simple: after peeling the taro and rubbing it with salt to remove the slime, the cook simmers the taro for many hours with beef tendons (or beef brisket). The finished product is hot Toranguk with sweet broth, tender taro and beef, helping everyone warm up quickly.

5. Indispensable activities during the Korean Mid-Autumn Festival

The Korean Mid-Autumn Festival Chuseok has many similarities with the Vietnamese Qingming Festival. Some of the activities that often occur during this time are:

5.1. Botanicals and grave sweeping

Not only do they hold a ceremony, Koreans also go to their ancestors' graves to clean them. Then, they set up small offerings, including fruits, lamps, water, grains (or any harvested products) to express their deep gratitude.

5.2. Ancestral worship ceremony

The Chuseok offering tray is a way for Korean people to express their respect and gratitude to gods and ancestors for a peaceful year and bountiful harvest.

5.3. Hang dry cereals in front of the door

The habit of hanging grains (usually ripe rice, sorghum, millet, etc.) from the previous crop on the main door of the house is often present in the countryside. The meaning of this action is to thank heaven, earth, and ancestors for a bountiful harvest and pray for luck, peace, and harmony between heaven and earth in the coming crop.

6. Suggested wishes for Chuseok holiday

Below are some good wishes commonly used on Korean Mid-Autumn Festival:

• 즐거운 추석 맞이하세요. (jeul-koun chu-sok ma-chi-ha-sae-yo): I wish you a happy Mid-Autumn Festival.

• 즐거운 명절 추석입니다. (jul-ko-un myung-jol jju-so-kim-ni-ta): Happy Chuseok season.

• 넉넉한 한가위 맞으세요. (pung-yo-rop-ko nok-no-khan ha-ka-uy ma-ju-se-yo): Wishing you a prosperous and abundant Mid-Autumn Festival.

• 풍성한 한가위 보내세요 . (pung-song-han han-ka-uy bo-ne-se-yo): Wishing you a happy and prosperous Mid-Autumn Festival.

• Don't be too much, don't be too little , be full like the full moon. (to-to mal-ko tol-to man-ko han-ka-uy-man ka-tha-ra): Don't be too much, don't be too little, be full like the full moon.

• 한가위를 맞아 마음 속까지 훈훈해지는 가슴 따뜻한 시간 보내시기를 기원합니다. (han-kauy-rul ma-ja so-kka-ji hun-hun-he-ji-nun ka-sum tta-ttu-than si-kan bo-ne-si-ki-rul ki-won-ham-ni-ta): On the occasion of Chuseok, I wish you a warm, relaxing time.

• 풍성한 한가위 보름달처럼 당신의 마음도 풍성해졌으면 좋겠습니다. (pung-song-han han-ka-uy bo-rum-tal-jjo-rom tang-si-ne ma-um-to pung-song-he-jyo-ssu-myon jot-ket-sum-ni-ta): May you also be filled with vitality like the full moonlight.

• 온 가족이 함께하는 기쁨과 사랑가득한 한가위 되시길 기원합니다. (on ka-jo-ki jam-ke-ha-nun ki-bbum-kwa sa-rang-ka-tu-khan han-kha-uy tue-si-kil ki-won-ham-ni-ta): Wishing the whole family a Mid-Autumn Festival filled with joy and love.

• 즐겁고 뜻깊은 한가위 되시기를 기원합니다. ([jul-kop-ko ttu-ki-pun han-ka-uy tue-si-ki-rul ki-won-ham-ni-ta): Wishing you a happy and joyful Mid-Autumn Festival.

7. Why should you travel to Korea during Chuseok?

Traveling to Korea during the Chuseok Korean Mid-Autumn Festival is a great opportunity for visitors to experience the following interesting things:

7.1. Explore traditional games

Chuseok is the time when all Korean people gather and organize many attractive folk games. For example, holding hands in a circle, competing in Ganggangsullae dance under the moon, Juldarigi tug-of-war, wrestling, archery... All of these activities require solidarity among all team members, thereby bringing valuable lessons about team spirit and closely bonding them together.

Wrestling is one of the traditional games of the Korean Mid-Autumn Festival.

7.2. Enjoy Korean persimmon season

Persimmon viewing is an important activity during the Korean Mid-Autumn Festival. Korean persimmons are usually at their peak around September and October, with a sweet, slightly crunchy taste and an attractive orange-yellow color. In addition to eating the ripe fruit, Koreans also dry persimmons to drink with wine or make Sujeonggwa persimmon juice.

7.3. Admire the romantic golden leaf scenery

The Chuseok festival is the time when the beautiful country of Korea enters autumn. Therefore, in addition to participating in the festival, visitors also have the opportunity to save a collection of beautiful virtual photos with the beautiful autumn scenery of Korea when the trees change leaves, turning yellow - red. The whole sky stands out at Nami Island, Bukchon Hanok ancient village or Gyeongbokgung Palace.