Known as the Korean Thanksgiving Day, Chuseok is one of the most popular and festive holidays of the year. Koreans usually return to their ancestral hometowns to celebrate with their families, creating one of the biggest traffic jams of the year as people mostly take the road to enter the provinces outside of Seoul. When Chuseok approaches early, remember to spend the time with your loved ones and enjoy some delicious food to capture this Korean holiday's essence.
1. Gifting
Spams and tuna cans are one of the most popular gifts among Koreas during the holiday seasons. No one knows its origins, but you now have an ample stock to make amazing Army Stew and Kimchi Jjigae out of them!
2. Ceremony
In Chuseok evening, Koreans perform a series of ceremonies to the earth gods and anscestors.
3. Making Songpyeon
It's a classic rice cake special to Chuseok. Each household has their own receipe to make Songpyeon. The filling varies from sesame past to chestnut jam, but we all share one thing in common - put pine tree leaves at the bottom of the rice cakes when steaming them
4. Ganggang Sullae
A traditional game played by lots of people - the more the better. Originated from an episode of a battle that saved Korea from Japan, it's a simple play where family and friends hold their hands, make a circle and walk along to sing a song or dance.
5. Chuseok Dishes
There's tons of delicious dishes special to Chuseok - from Japchae to ceremony foods to braised rib stew, family gathers and share the foods together.
