Traditions of South Korea
Chuseok — Korean Thanksgiving Day
Also Known as Hangawi in South Korea
Happy Chuseok!
Chuseok, or otherwise called Hangawi in Korea, or Korean Thanksgiving by Westerners, is celebrated on August 15 of the lunar calendar, which means it changes every year. This 3-day event takes place from September 20–22, 2021, and marks one of the biggest holidays in South Korea. It is also referred to as “Autumn eve,” representing a day of harvest.
Even though this has been a largely agricultural celebration, people come together to be with family, eat and make offerings to their ancestors.
On the first morning, the eldest son prepares a table of food (fruit, cakes, soup, vegetables, and alcohol) that is set up on a raised platform in front of pictures of deceased family members. This ritual is called charye (차례) and is a time for families to pay respects to their ancestors. In previous days, this was all done at the gravesite, but modern-day families now perform this ritual at home.
