Korean Thanksgiving Day, 추석 is here!

Summary

Chuseok, Korea's version of Thanksgiving, is a major holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, typically falling in September or October. This year, it's on September 21st, and Koreans enjoy a five-day holiday. Traditionally, families gather to honor ancestors and give thanks for the harvest. Key customs include ancestor memorial services, visiting ancestral graves, and sharing traditional foods like 'ton' (Korean pancakes). Chuseok is a time for family reunions and appreciation of life.

Takeaways

• 🌕 Chuseok is a major Korean holiday, akin to Thanksgiving, celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month.
• 📅 Chuseok's date varies each year, typically falling in September or October, and in 2024 it will be on September 21st.
• 🎉 This year, Chuseok is a five-day holiday due to the holiday being followed by the weekend.
• 👪 Historically, Chuseok was a time for family members to gather and give thanks to ancestors for a bountiful harvest.
• 🌾 The holiday is still deeply traditional, with many customs and practices from the past continuing to be observed.
• 🙏 'Chuseok' can be translated to 'Autumn Evening', and 'Hangawi' is another term for the holiday.
• 🍽️ An important part of Chuseok is the ancestor memorial service, where families pay respects and share a meal.
• 🌿 The tradition of 'Seongyu', visiting and cleaning ancestral graves, is still observed by many during Chuseok.
• 🥞 'Ton', traditional Korean pancakes, are a common food enjoyed during Chuseok festivities.
• 👶 For many Koreans, Chuseok is a cherished time to reunite with family, celebrate life, and create memories, such as making 'Tun Pyon' together.

Q & A

What is Chuseok?

Chuseok is a major Korean holiday, often referred to as the Korean version of Thanksgiving, celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month according to the lunar calendar.

When is Chuseok typically celebrated?

Chuseok is usually celebrated in September or October, with the exact date varying each year. In 2024, it falls on September 21st.

How long is the Chuseok holiday in 2024?

In 2024, the Chuseok holiday lasts for five days, as the holiday is followed by the weekend.

What is the historical purpose of Chuseok?

Historically, Chuseok was a time for family members to gather and show gratitude to their ancestors for a fruitful harvest during the full harvest moon.

What is the significance of Hangawi in relation to Chuseok?

Hangawi is another term for Chuseok, and it signifies the holiday's importance as a time for family gatherings and celebration.

How do you greet someone with a happy Chuseok in Korean?

In Korean, you can wish someone a happy Chuseok by saying 'Chuseok jeil geot eul bwayo', which translates to 'Have a good Chuseok'.

What is the traditional activity performed during Chuseok called 'Charye'?

Charye is the traditional ancestor memorial service that takes place in the morning of Chuseok, where families gather to pay respects and eat together.

What is the meaning of 'Seongyu' in the context of Chuseok?

Seongyu is the tradition of visiting ancestral graves and cleaning them during Chuseok, symbolizing familial duty and devotion.

What food is commonly associated with Chuseok celebrations?

Ton, traditional Korean pancakes, are commonly found on dinner tables during Chuseok. There are various types of ton, such as myeong taejang and tubujon.

How does the celebration of Chuseok differ from modern practices?

While traditional practices like Charye and Seongyu are still observed, modern celebrations of Chuseok also include family gatherings and the enjoyment of traditional foods like ton.

What is the narrator's personal connection to Chuseok?

The narrator fondly remembers Chuseok as one of their favorite holidays from childhood, as it was a time to see all family members and make tun pyon together.

Outlines

00:00

🌕 Chuseok: Korea's Thanksgiving

Chuseok is one of Korea's three major holidays, akin to Thanksgiving, celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, typically falling in September or October. This year, it occurs on September 21st. Traditionally, Chuseok is a time for family to gather and give thanks to ancestors for a bountiful harvest. The holiday is marked by a three-day break, extended to five days this year due to the holiday's alignment with the weekend. The video provides an introduction to Chuseok, including traditional greetings such as 'Chuseok haejunghaseyo,' which translates to 'Have a good Chuseok.'

🍲 Chuseok Traditions and Foods

Historically, Chuseok was a time for family members to come together under the full harvest moon to celebrate and express gratitude for a successful harvest. Key traditions include ancestor memorial services, where families gather to bow and share a meal with their ancestors. Another tradition is 'seongyu,' the act of cleaning ancestral graves, which symbolizes familial duty and devotion. The video also mentions 'ton,' traditional Korean pancakes that are a staple during Chuseok meals. Various types of 'chan' (Korean pancakes) are prepared and enjoyed, with the video offering a previous look at a 'chan' restaurant for more context.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family and Celebration in Chuseok

For Koreans, Chuseok is a time to celebrate life and appreciate family. The host fondly recalls Chuseok from their childhood as a favorite holiday due to the opportunity to see all family members and make 'tun pyon' together, a traditional activity. The video concludes by inviting viewers to share their own Thanksgiving traditions and whether they have a holiday similar to Chuseok. It also encourages viewers to watch previous content related to Chuseok for a deeper understanding of the holiday's customs and significance.

Keywords

💡Chuseok

Chuseok is a major Korean holiday that is akin to Thanksgiving in the United States. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month according to the lunar calendar, typically falling in September or October. The holiday involves family gatherings, ancestor worship, and a time to give thanks for the harvest. In the video, Chuseok is highlighted as a time for family members to come together, reflecting the holiday's significance in Korean culture.

💡Lunar Calendar

The lunar calendar is a traditional calendar system based on the phases of the moon. Chuseok is determined by this calendar, making the specific date of the holiday change each year. The script mentions that Chuseok is on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, emphasizing the importance of the lunar calendar in determining the timing of this Korean holiday.

💡Ancestor Memorial Service

An ancestor memorial service, or charye, is a traditional Korean ritual performed to honor and remember one's ancestors. As described in the script, it is a representative tradition during Chuseok where families gather with food, bow to the ancestors, and then eat together after the service. This practice underscores the cultural value placed on family and respect for one's lineage.

💡Seongyu

Seongyu refers to the tradition of visiting and cleaning ancestral graves during Chuseok. It is seen as a familial duty and a sign of devotion, as mentioned in the script. Although modern practices may vary, with more people choosing cremation over burial, seongyu remains a significant aspect of Chuseok, reflecting the holiday's connection to ancestral reverence.

💡Ton

Ton, or Korean pancakes, are a traditional food often served during Chuseok. The script highlights the variety of chans, including myeong taejang and tubujon, that can be found on dinner tables during the holiday. Ton represents the culinary aspect of Chuseok, showcasing the importance of food in Korean cultural celebrations.

💡Hangawi

Hangawi is a Korean term used to wish someone a happy Chuseok. It is similar to saying 'Happy Thanksgiving' in English. The script uses this term to illustrate how one would greet someone during the holiday, indicating the social and celebratory nature of Chuseok.

💡Harvest Moon

The harvest moon is the full moon that appears on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, coinciding with Chuseok. Historically, Chuseok was a time for family members to gather and celebrate the fruitful harvest under this moon, as mentioned in the script. The harvest moon symbolizes the agricultural significance of the holiday.

💡Family Gathering

Family gatherings are a central aspect of Chuseok, as they are for many holidays around the world. The script describes how Chuseok is a time for family members to come together, similar to how Thanksgiving is celebrated in the United States. This gathering is a key part of the holiday's tradition and serves to strengthen familial bonds.

💡Traditional Holiday

Chuseok is described in the script as a traditional holiday, with many customs and practices being preserved from the past. It is a time to uphold cultural traditions, such as ancestor worship and family gatherings, which are deeply rooted in Korean heritage. The term 'traditional holiday' encapsulates the historical and cultural importance of Chuseok.

💡Cremation

Cremation is mentioned in the script as an alternative to burial in modern times. This change in funeral practices affects traditions like seongyu, which involves cleaning ancestral graves. The mention of cremation reflects the evolving customs within Korean culture while still maintaining connections to ancestral reverence during Chuseok.

💡Tun Pyon

Tun pyon, or Korean mooncakes, are a traditional food associated with Chuseok. The script recounts a personal memory of making tun pyon with family members during the holiday. Tun pyon symbolizes the festive and communal aspects of Chuseok, as it is a food that is often made and shared among family during the celebrations.

Highlights

Chuseok is one of Korea's three major holidays and is akin to Thanksgiving.

Chuseok is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, typically in September or October.

In 2024, Chuseok falls on September 21st.

Korea usually has a three-day holiday for Chuseok, but in 2024 it will be extended to five days due to the holiday's alignment with the weekend.

Historically, Chuseok was a time for family members to gather and give thanks to ancestors for a bountiful harvest.

Chuseok is still a traditional holiday where many customs from the past are maintained.

The greeting for Chuseok in Korean is 'Chuseok junbi hae bol geot eul bwayo?', which means 'Have you prepared for Chuseok?'

Hangawi is another term for Chuseok.

Charye (ancestral memorial service) is an important tradition that takes place in the morning on Chuseok day.

Seongyu, the practice of visiting and cleaning ancestral graves, is a familial duty and sign of devotion.

Ton, or traditional Korean pancakes, are a common food during Chuseok.

Chan (Korean pancakes) come in various types such as myeong taejang, tubujon, and more.

A previous video introduced Chan at a ton restaurant, which can be viewed for more information.

Chuseok is a time for Koreans to celebrate life and appreciate family.

The tradition of making tun pyon (Korean rice cakes) together is a cherished part of Chuseok for many.

Chuseok is a time for family gatherings and maintaining cultural traditions.

Transcripts

[Music]

hi everyone this is korean only in korea

now

one of korea's three major holidays is

approaching what is chuseok chuseok is

the korean version of thanksgiving and

is celebrated on the 15th day of the

eighth month according to the lunar

calendar the exact day changes each year

but it's typically in september and

october this year it will be on the 21st

of september and usually korea have a

three-day holiday on choose out but this

year it will be a five day holiday since

the chuseok holiday is followed by the

weekend in today's video we're going to

have a brief look of what is chuso and

some words and culture related to

chuseok historically the purpose of

chuseok was for family members to gather

together during the full harvest moon

which appeared in the sky on the 15th

day of the 8th month in the lunar

calendar to celebrate and show gratitude

to their ancestors for their fruitful

harvest these days as well along with

turned our lunar new year is the holiday

that family members gather together it's

still very much a traditional holiday

where many of the costumes from the old

days stand then how do we greet someone

happy thanksgiving in korean we say

or

which means have a good happy chuseok

hangawi is another word for

now these are some words related to

chuseok

can be explained as ancestor memorial

service and it takes place in the

morning of the day of chuseok ancestor

memorial service or ancestor worship can

sound serious and odd but it is a

representative tradition when family

members gather in their homes with foods

the family bow to the ancestors together

and eat together after the service

during chuseok it's normal to visit the

ancestral graves and pluck the weeds

that have grown around the grave since

last time in the modern days there are

more people choosing cremation rather

than burying but seongyu is a tradition

that was considered a familial duty and

a sign of devotion

ton is one of the foods that you can

taste during the chuseok holidays ton

traditional korean pancakes are commonly

found at dinner tables of south koreans

when it's chuseok there are a variety of

chans like myeong taejang

tubujon and so on i have previously made

a video of introducing chan at a ton

restaurant so you can take a look as

well

for koreans chuseok is about celebrating

life and appreciating family when i was

young chuseok was one of my favorite

holidays because i get to see all my

family members and make tun pyon

together what are some characteristics

of your thanksgiving day do you have a

similar holiday like chuseok thank you

for watching and see you again soon bye

[Music]