This also makes spring a busy time for tourism and sightseeing, with lots of locals and foreigners alike heading out to enjoy the stunning Korean natural beauty that’s on show. The warm weather, the abundant beauty of nature waking up from its winter hibernation, the chance to travel more, and the incredible spring festivals in Korea. Spring is one of my favourite times in Korea for many reasons. Stroll under delicate cherry blossoms, watch the miracle of Jindo as waters part in front of your eyes, watch reverently as thousands of Buddhist lotus lanterns parade through the streets of Seoul, and lots, lots more. These are best embodied in the many wonderful, vibrant spring festivals in Korea. Spring is a season alive with colours, nature, and fresh hopes for the year ahead. "The weather is nice, you're with your family, and there's lots of food, so it's hard not to enjoy Chuseok.Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on Twitter Share on Reddit
"When I was young, Chuseok was my favourite holiday because I got to see all my relatives and we would all catch up and make songpyeon together," says Kim. These two events are held all over the Korean peninsula, and many Koreans enjoy watching them not only for the symbolism but also for their entertainment value.įor Koreans, Chuseok is about celebrating life and appreciating family. This is achieved by latching onto the opponent's satba, a belt wrapped around the participants' waists and thighs. They compete in wrestling matches, aiming to pull any part of their opponent's body above the knee to the ground. Meanwhile, the men - and even some women - take part in ssireum. Variations are often added, with the women creating shapes or taking turns to dance in the middle. They dance, hand in hand, in a circle while singing the nostalgic tune that is related to the dance. It is a colourful routine that involves a group of women wearing Korea's national dress, the hanbok. Ganggangsullae is a traditional folk dance that was initially performed to bring about a fruitful harvest. This creates a pattern on the outer layer and leaves a refreshing scent.Īs well as the food, Koreans also enjoy cultural activities during Chuseok. "Song" means pine tree after the rice cake is filled, it is steamed in a layer of pine needles.
#CHEONSUCK FESTIVAL MIDAUTUMN KOREAN FULL#
One homemade bite that has become almost synonymous with Chuseok is songpyeon, a traditional Korean rice cake stuffed with sweet fillings such as sesame seeds, honey, chestnut paste and red bean paste.Īlthough Chuseok is celebrated during a full moon, songpyeon is folded in a half-moon shape to symbolise the sweetness of the future even after the festival has passed. However, charye isn't the only time people enjoy delicious food. After setting up food - usually tea, vegetables, soups, rice and meat - on a raised platform, family members gather together to bow several times - in a particular order depending on gender and age - to give offerings as thanks for the year past and wish for luck for the coming year. "The weather is so good that we even rescheduled the Summer Olympics for autumn when we hosted the Games in 1988."Īlthough Chuseok's roots are largely agricultural, in present-day Korea the festival is a time for people to visit family, eat traditional food and make offerings to deceased ancestors.ĭuring the three-day national holiday, many city-dwelling Koreans travel to their hometowns to do just that.Įarly each morning on those days, many families observe charye, a tea rite held to pay respects to deceased ancestors. It's because the weather is so good," says Kim Hye-won, director of The Cultural Studies Centre of East Asia. "Farmers in Korea harvest rice, the most important food in Korea, only once, and that's during Chuseok.