Chuseok, a National Holiday

 In September, there is Chuseok or Korean Thanks Giving Day, It is one of Korea's national holiday. Chuseok is the largest annihilation holiday in Korea. It is celebrated on August 15 of the lunar calendar, and it is three days holiday, the first day is preparation of food for the ceremony and the following day of Chuseok performs a Korean Thanks giving offering ceremony, They are designated as legal holidays, just like New Year's Day. Chuseok is one of the biggest holiday of the year, which is the most important to the people of Korea from the old days when it was an agricultural society. Before the end of the autumn harvest, they made delicacies made of undercooked ground rice called “songpyeon”, fresh fruits and other kind of special food. And hold ancestral rites with gratitude. On Chuseok, there is a tradition that family relatives gather in their hometowns to hold ancestral rites together and visit their graves. Most people think Chuseok is Korea's unique holiday, but other countries are spending similar holidays to ours too.

 In China, Chuseok, the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, is called Mid-Autumn Festival. It is called Central because it is in the middle of autumn, and it is said that moon cakes are eaten in China just as songpyeon is eaten in Korea. Mooncakes, they resemble the shape of a round moon. Mooncakes are made with flour, sugar, eggs, red beans, meat, and dried fruits. Chinese believe that the more they are round, the luck comes, Therefore they try to make a round shape like a full moon. However, the difference from Chuseok in Korea is that ancestral rites are held for Korean ancestors, but Chinese rituals are held to the moon. In addition, it is said that people who cannot go to their hometowns because the continent is too large. Chinese soothe their longing for their parents and relatives by looking at the moon.

 In Vietnam, like Korea and China, the 15th of the 8th lunar month is Chuseok. In Vietnamese, Chuseok is called "Tet Truing thu" and on this day, families gather to eat traditional food and visit the grave. Due to the influence of China, they eat a traditional food called Ban Truing thu, a food similar to moon cakes, and hold ancestral rites to the moon like in China. However, Chuseok in Vietnam is similar to Korea, but it has different characteristics. Tet Truing thu is also called Children's Day in Vietnam because parents give gifts to young children. It is said that it is a day to express sorry for not being able to take care of children due to farming, and children fly lanterns with stars made of bamboo and colored paper, fish, and various types of lanterns in the shape of boats. Then they make a wish and celebrate Tet Truing thu.

 Finally, there is Thanksgiving Day in America. Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November, and it is said that it began in the 17th century with the intention of appreciating the harvest by Puritans who moved from England to the United States. It is said that Americans have a good time on Thanksgiving Day by meeting family members and acquaintances who have been hard to find. Especially on Thanksgiving Day, a rich dinner table is served. A typical example of food is grilled turkey. Americans think that the food they eat on Thanksgiving should be hot and plentiful, so they eat more than three times a day at home. It is considered polite to empty the dishes clean.

 So far, we have looked at Chuseok holidays in each country with various meanings of other countries custom and culture during that holiday. Although the timing and name of Chuseok differ from country to country, thinking about ancestors and family is all similar. In addition, there is something in common that shares abundance with relatives and neighbors based on the harvested grain. September 10th this year is Chuseok, a national holiday. Although some people are living in other places, I hope it will be a day to say hello to parents while looking at the full moon.