Korean Thanksgiving is a three day holiday at which Koreans return to their hometowns to pay respect to the spirits of their ancestors. Rituals are performed to give thanks to ancestors such as a visit to the tombs of their immediate ancestors. At the tomb, families offer food, drink, and crops.
Because Chuseok is a major holiday, korean businesses close down, and people are given time off from work. Hotels are even giving out special deals, to encourage people to stay at their hotels since it will be more vacant due to people going home for the holiday. In an article on korea.net, the author talks about Chuseok and says, "Korean society and culture continues to revolve around the consumption of food and drink, and emphasis is always placed on using the freshest and healthiest ingredients. It goes without saying that to a people so deeply intertwined with their agrarian past, celebrating the harvest would be of the utmost importance." The connection between the two websites, show the significance of the holiday in Korea. Hotels are taking the holiday into consideration and creating special rates, and the official website of Korea is making sure to detail the importance of the festival. I chose to make my personal blog about Korean food because of the long history and importance of food in our culture.
One of the major foods prepared and eaten during the Chuseok holiday is songpyeon (송편), a crescent-shaped rice cake, steamed, with crushed sweet pine nuts inside. The rice cake is found in many different colors but in my experience they all taste very similar.
Other foods commonly prepared are japchae (noodles), bulgogi (beef) and fruits.
Chuseok is such major holiday in Korea that is even celebrated by Korean people in the United States. I personally do not celebrate it with my family, but my family does enjoy eating seongpyun to participate in a small way.
I would love to go to Korea and experience Chuseok first hand someday!
