It＊s Chuseok, when Koreans remember the dead＃There＊ll always be flowers, blossom that blows. I catch a memory in fragrance: Peace, my father＊s favorite rose. 每Johari＊s Window, Suzy Davies
Agricultural Festivals, as mentioned above take place annually or periodically, depending on the crop rotation, many communities observe the day of harvest as a day of celebration, one such community is the Korean community. Chuseok (??), literally meaning ※autumn eve§ is a major harvest festival, which is collectively observed in both the Koreas. It is also known as the Korean ※Thanksgiving Day§ and is celebrated on the 15th day of 8th month of the lunar calendar on the full moon. It is one of the most important festivals, which goes on for 3 day and is also known for causing one of the biggest traffic jams of the year as people take to roads to reach their hometowns.
Conventionally, Chuseok originated from Gabae, which started during the reign of the 3rd king of the kingdom Silla (57 BCE 每 935 CE). The origins of Chuseok can also be traced to early Korean agrarian society, when Chuseok was known as Hangwai, meaning, the 15th day of August, according to the lunar calendar. This day would observe a full harvest moon in the sky while families gather to enjoy together and express gratitude to their ancestors for the plentiful harvest. The women prepare an ancestral memorial called Charye.?
Charye is prepared by filling a table with food out of the newly harvested rice and fruits. It is also a traditional view of spiritual life beyond physical death, which takes into account the afterlife. It is believed that the ancestors in the afterlife are the ones protecting their descendants. In the offerings, along with newly harvested rice and fruit, alcohol, and songpyeon (half-moon rice cakes) are also prepared for the ancestors. After performing the rites, families enjoy a feast including bulgogi, Korean pancakes and fruits.
The act of visiting ancestors＊ graves is known as Seongmyo and Beolcho is the act of cleaning the grave sites which is done as a preparation for Chuseok. These traditions are carried out to show respect and appreciation for family ancestors. Days before Chuseok, graves are visited in order to remove weeds that have grown over the summer; this custom is also considered as a duty and expression of devotion. In Seongmyo, family members gather at their ancestors＊ graves and pay respect to the deceased with a simple memorial service.
Apart from these rites and traditional food items, certain traditional games or folk dances or performative arts are also performed. Ssireum is the most popular Korean sport of wrestling, Taekkyon is the oldest tradition of Korean martial arts, Juldarigi is the Korean version of tug of war and Ganggansullae is a Korean traditional folk dance performed under the Chuseok full moon.
As time has changed the Chuseok traditions in South Korea, have also been evolved throughout; though there are still people who stick to the old tradition of preparing the Chuseok feast, however, a large part of Korean population have moved out of their hometown, Chuseok therefore gives them a perfect reason to visit their families, annually. Masses of people travel long distances and travel tickets are sold out three months in advance, travel companies and transportation companies are the beneficiaries.?
Another modern-day Chuseok tradition is that of gift-giving. Wine shops, Korean make-up brands, fruit-sellers, Korean Snack Companies and Korean traditional restaurants are the most benefitted from this tradition. Varieties of gifts are exchanged and these are sold at high prices in the weeks before Chuseok.?
During Chuseok, different fairs and festivities are held at the National Folk Museum of South Korea, whereas other institutions like postal services, banks, schools, etc., observe a national holiday.?
Chuseok has worked as a political instrument to facilitate friendly ties between the two Koreas, where reunions are organized through video calls, restoring a permanent meeting place, writing letters, etc.
These meeting places are designated slots where people can sit, and meet their relatives from across the borders. Despite the rivalry, on the festival of Chuseok, two Koreas re-live the nostalgia of unity.?
Since Chuseok was a traditional holiday before the division of Korea, these celebrations are also observed in North Korea. Since the division, South Korea has adopted a westernized way of life, which caused differences between both Koreas.
Meanwhile, North Korea did not celebrate Chuseok until the mid-1980s. In 1986, Chuseok was designated an ※ethnic festival§ by Kim Jong-il, and it became a national holiday in 1988. North Koreans today celebrate Chuseok in a more limited fashion than that South Koreans due to poor infrastructure and state dictatorship.