August 15th on the lunar calendar is Chuseok (추석), one of the biggest holidays in Korea alongside Seollal (설날). Also called Hangawi (한가위), Chuseok is a day for wishing a bountiful harvest and celebrating family traditions.
In this post, I’ll share how Koreans celebrate this meaningful holiday.
The Great Migration
During Chuseok, families and relatives gather at parents’ or grandparents’ homes. This tradition causes one of the largest travel movements in Korea. Tickets for trains and buses sell out weeks in advance, and highway trips can take twice as long—sometimes up to ten hours from Seoul to Busan!
People often prepare special gifts and look forward to reconnecting with family. Some wear hanbok (한복), Korea’s traditional clothing, although many opt for more comfortable outfits, especially when traveling long distances. Still, seeing children dressed in colorful hanbok is a cherished sight during Chuseok.
Traditional Customs and Games
Chuseok customs begin with seongmyo (성묘), visiting ancestors' graves, and beolcho (벌초), cleaning the gravesites. Some families also perform charye (차례), ancestral rites held at home with a table full of food offerings. However, modern lifestyles have led many families to simplify or skip these practices.
After formalities, families enjoy traditional games like jegichagi (제기차기, hacky sack), yutnori (윷놀이, a board game), and more. Although it's rare to play larger games like neolttwigi (널뛰기, Korean seesaw) or ssireum (씨름, Korean wrestling) today, these activities remain beloved parts of Korean cultural heritage.
A Feast of Traditional Foods
Food is a huge part of Chuseok celebrations. Families prepare feasts featuring songpyeon (송편, half-moon-shaped rice cakes filled with sesame seeds, red beans, or chestnuts) alongside savory pancakes like jeon (전) and grilled dishes like galbi (갈비, marinated ribs).
In my family, pork and kimchi skewers are a favorite. Chuseok meals are rich and plentiful, so it’s easy to overeat—which is why I now try to pace myself during the holidays!
➤ As Korean society has modernized, traditional Chuseok customs have become more flexible. Some people now use the holiday to travel abroad, while others still cherish gathering with extended family. Personally, spending time at my grandmother’s countryside home remains one of my most precious childhood memories.
