추석 is one of the biggest holidays of Korea and is also called 한가위. It’s on August 15th (Lunar calendar) when full moon appears. 추석 is September 13th this year. Unlike other holidays, 추석 guarantees us not only one day off but three: the day before, 추석 day, and day after. Traditionally, families gather around in 추석, playing traditional games like 윷놀이 and 제기차기, making food, and taking time to pay our gratitude to ancestors. Also severe traffic jam is expected during the season, so if you plan to visit Korea around 추석 make sure not to get caught in a traffic jam! (There’s lots of people moving around in their cars to visit family)
Other things aside, 추석 is famous for its traditional foods, especially the iconic 송편. 송편 is one of the Korean traditional rice cake(떡, tteok) eaten in 추석.
Photo Credit : Korea.net
송편 is halfmoon shaped tteok(kind of like bread), filled with a paste of red beans, sesame seeds, chestnuts, or sugar. After it’s folded into the nice halfmoon shape, it’s then steamed with pine needles. The colors of 송편 comes from natural food colorings like pumpkins or mugworts. (I personally like the green mugwort one the best. If you can, try it. You won’t regret it! - admin Sun)
Traditionally, in 추석, families sit around shaping 송편. Kids often go creative and make 송편 that look like flowers, faces or even dragons. There is no limit to their creation as long as it can hold the paste inside. There also is a saying that goes “송편을 잘 빚으면 예쁜 딸을 낳는다.” “If you shape your 송편 well, you’ll have a pretty daughter.” Of course it’s just one of the superstitions.
Sadly, the old tradition of 추석 is not as active as before. As people grow too busy taking care of themselves and as the bond between families is not as strong as before, people tend to skip the tradition of whole family gathering, from grandparents to cousins, and rather spend time with a small unit of family or don’t spend time with family at all. Also we cannot deny that preparing for 추석 is a very time and effort taking work: there are so many food to make, so many families to take care of. It seems reasonable to minimize some work. However, 추석 still withholds its title of biggest holiday(명절) in Korea and the delight of holiday and foods is still good to enjoy.
★Vocab
명절holiday *the term 명절 is used only for 추석 or 설날(New Year’s day of Korea)
떡ricecake, tteok
음력lunar calendar
달moon
가족family
전통tradition
교통 체증 traffic jam
차가 막히다 more casual term of “there is a traffic jam”
고속도로:Highway
음식food
팥sweet red bean
깨sesame seed
호박pumpkin
쑥mugwort
찌다to steam
빚다to shape
Wherever you are and whatever country you are in, even if today is not your holiday, have a fantastic day:D
