Chuseok (추석) - pronounced choo-suhk - is a celebration in Korea similar to the United States holiday Thanksgiving. It occurs on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, but the celebration begins the day before and ends the day after the actual Chuseok date. In 2021, the celebration occurred on September 20-22.
In Korea, many traditionally celebrated Chuseok by hosting a formal charye (차례), or a memorial for their ancestors, at the household of the head of the family. Freshly harvested rice and fruit was prepared by the women. Then, people would visit the graves of the ancestors, remove weeds, and bring food, such as songpyeon (송편) – a certain kind of rice cake, in a tradition called Seongmyo (성묘).
In modern-day Korea, gift-giving is a part of the holiday and people give presents like well-cut beef and apples to relatives, family, and business associates. Ganggangsullae (강강술래), a traditional Korean dance, is performed. Women wear hanboks (한복) or traditional Korean dresses, sing, and form a circle and dance, representing the full moon. Games - such as juldarigi (줄다리기), a Korean version of tug-of-war with a very thick, hand-woven straw rope, ssireum (씨름) and dalkssaum (닭싸움), which are wrestling-like sports, and Go-Stop (고스톱), a Korean card game - are played as well.
At Andrews University, Chuseok was hosted at the Living Springs Fellowship church by KASA (Korean-American Student Association). People drove to the church where Korean music was playing and KASA officers were serving Korean staples, such as mayak gimbap (마약김밥) - seaweed wraps with vegetables and rice, japchae (잡채) - clear stir fried noodles with vegetables, mandu (만두) - fried vegetable dumplings, and - of course - songpyeon. Students then socialized in the church or drove back.
When asked why it was important to celebrate holidays like Chuseok at Andrews University even though Chuseok is not an American holiday, Joshua Pak (senior, biochemistry) - president of KASA - commented on the diversity of Andrews University. The Chuseok celebration at LSF was open to all students, not just to Koreans, and Pak noted that many of the students that KASA served were not Korean. Pak added that Chuseok presented the opportunity for these students to learn about different perspectives, especially that of Korean culture, and how Chuseok allowed students to experience a new opportunity and to “be happy for why the other person is happy.” Pak expects that KASA will continue fun events where “the Korean-American culture” can be shared with others and encourages students to keep an eye out!
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.