Chuseok is one of the biggest traditional festivals in Korea. It is like a Korean Thanksgiving.
It is a major harvest festival in Korea, celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar, typically in September or October in the Gregorian calendar.
The Korean calendar uses both solar and lunar dates. However, festivals usually follow the lunar calendar.
It is a time for families to get together and pay their gratitude for the bountiful harvest. Traditional activities include bowing to ancestors, visiting family graves, and playing traditional games. It is also a time for special foods and traditional clothing.
During Chuseok, traditional Korean foods are typically served. These include Songpyeon (송편) which are small, crescent-shaped rice cakes filled with various fillings such as sesame seeds, beans, and chestnuts. Another popular food is Jeon (전), which is a type of savory pancake made with ingredients such as vegetables, seafood, and meat.
Chuseok is also called Hangawi (한가위) in Korean. The days immediately before and after Chuseok are public holidays in Korea. Chuseok and Seollal are both considered major holidays in Korea.