South Korea Keypals Share Their Culture

Now I'd like to talk about "Chu-sok", which is one of the three popular holidays of Korea. "Chu-sok" is on the August 15th and is also called "Han-gawie" or "Ga-wie". Because traditionally we follow the lunar calendar which conformed closely to the seasons, it falls on October 1st this year and comes on the middle of autumn which is the harvest time.
On Chu-sok holiday, we get together to hometown to see grandparents and relatives. We offer 'charye' to our ancestors to hold a memorial service and then visit our family tombs. 'Charye' is a feast we offer to our ancestors, with food made from the new crops and fruit of the year. The special food is "Song-pyeon", a kind of rice cake made of newly-rice.

Also, there were many games played on Chu-sok, especially, the young sang "Ching-Ching-ga" or "Ganggang-Soowallae" and played under the shining full moon."Gang gang - Soowallae" is the refrain of the song. One woman sings the song of her own, then the others sing the refrain together and go round as the circle goes.
As you thank God on Thanksgiving, we give thanks to our ancestors for the new harvest on Chusuk. So we say it is similar to Thanksgiving. Have you ever heard about "Chu-sok"?

Sincerely yours, Hee-kyoung