Chuseok Holiday

The Chuseok break starts  from September 24th to the 27th in South Korea.  During Chuseok, we stay with our families. Also, we can play many different games. For example, we can play Yut Nori. Yut Nori is  a classic board game where two teams throw four wooden sticks to race their pieces across a board. Secondly, we  perform Ganggangsullae. This is a large circle dance traditionally performed by women under the full moon to pray for abundance. Third is Jegichagi, an active skill game where players keep a paper shuttlecock in the air using only their feet. Next is Thuo; it is a traditional target game where players toss arrows for sticks into a narrow jar a set distance. Lastly is Ssireum, it is a traditional style of Korean wrestling where competitors grapple using a cloth belt (“satba”) to pin their opponent. These were all the games we could play in Chuseok.  

Chuseok is important because it is the country's major harvest festival and a vital time for family reunions and honoring ancestors. This traditional holiday is celebrated through the food we eat, too!One of our dishes is called Songpyeon. It is half moon-shaped rice cakes stuffed with sesame seeds, red beans, chestnuts, or brown sugar. Families make them together on the holiday eve.  In addition, we eat Jeon, which is savory panfried pancakes made from meat, fish, or vegetables coated in flour and egg. Popular types include squash, fish, skewered meat and vegetable jeon. Also, Galbijjim is served.  a hearty and tender braised beef short rib dish cooked with vegetables in a sweet soy glaze. One of my favorites is Japchae! It's stir fried glass noodles tossed in sesame oil with vegetables and sometimes beef. 

Lastly is fresh harvest food. It is newly harvested rice, traditional rice liquor such as Baekju or Makgeolli, and fresh autumn fruits like apples, Asian pears, and Jujubes. These are  all the foods we eat in Chuseok and all the things we can eat in Chuseok.