GET TO KNOW US
News
Chuseok Encounters
2008-09-25 VIEW : 2094
|
Experience Korea's Rich Holiday Traditions Written by Jacqueline Kim Illustration by Kim Hyun-ji Chuseok, often recognized by foreigners as the Korean Thanksgiving, is one of the two major national holidays in Korea along with Seollal, the lunar New Year. Chuseok falls on Aug 15 of the lunar calendar. While the holiday is widely known as Chuseok, which comes from the Chinese word for "fall evening," it is also called "Hangawi" in pure Korean. "Han" means great or large, and "gawi" means middle. Combined together, Hangawi translates into "a great day in the middle of August." This year, Chuseok runs from Sept 13─15. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The origins of Chuseok date all the way from the ancient Silla
kingdom, meaning this traditional holiday has outlived thousands
of years of kingdoms and government shifts to remain a prominent
holidays in both North and South Korea. Similar to its Western counterpart,
Chuseok is a holiday where families gather together in order to
give thanks for a bountiful harvest (or the modern equivalent),
and express their wishes for the upcoming year. Most Koreans vacate
Seoul and return to their hometowns where they gather with their
families to perform charye, a memorial service in which ancestors
are honored, and other traditional activities. Additionally, the
majority of Seoul's shops and restaurants are closed over the three-day
weekend. However, many venues within Seoul will offer foreigners
and devoted Seoulites the opportunity to experience the traditions
of Chuseok. Moon-Greeting Shaman Ceremony The National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts (NCKTPA) will host an outdoor celebration event this Chuseok on Sept 14, beginning at 7pm. This event is entitled, "Moon-Greeting Gut," which refers to a shaman ceremony. At this family-oriented event, visitors of all ages will join together under a bright moon in the outdoor theater of the NCKTPA to participate in folk singing performances and traditional Korean circle dancing. In addition, visitors can enjoy tightrope walking and traditional dance performances on the expansive lawn of the performing arts center. Admission to this event is 5,000 won for adults and children, and free for elderly visitors. For more information, please call (02) 580-3300. Namsan Hanok Village Namsan Hanok Village, a beautiful village composed of a traditional garden and traditional Korean homes, hosts an annual festival for the three days of Chuseok where visitors can learn traditional Chuseok games and view traditional dance and arts performances. These performances typically include a Gangnyeong mask dance performance, and an accompanying exhibit of Korean paper dolls. Finally, visitors can learn to make songpyeon, which are a Chuseok staple. Songpyeon are half-moon shaped rice cakes filled with a sweet filling of sesame seeds, red bean paste, or chestnuts. These stuffed-dough rice cakes are then steamed in pine needles, which add a pleasant fragrance. Tradition holds that women who shape beautiful half-moon songpyeon will marry good men. For more information, please call (02) 2266-6923. Palace Celebrations Seoul's palaces traditionally host Chuseok-related events as well. During the holiday weekend, the palaces of Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, and Deoksugung will remain open for visitors to enjoy. Visitors donning hanboks or other traditional Korean apparel will enjoy free admission on these days. Changgyeonggung Palace and Jongmyo Royal Shrine will also be open during Chuseok. Additionally, Changgyeonggung and Unhyeongung will offer traditional Korean games such as neolttwigi ─ traditionally pair seesawing ─ and tuho deonjigi ─ arrow throwing. The National Folk Museum of Korea The National Folk Museum will host traditional dance performances on the Friday and Saturday nights over Chuseok weekend. Friday night's feature will be a series of six dances of different traditional Korean genres performed by Kim Munae. These dances will range from janguchum, the hour-glass drum dance that reflects the harmony between traditional dance and farmers' music, to Buddhist dance, and even includes salpuri, a dance for exorcising evil spirits. On Saturday night, the actual evening of Chuseok, Chungcheong province monks Park Suchun and Lee Jaesun will perform a regional shamanic ritual in celebration of the holiday. Whatever your tastes, Seoul offers many venues to experience the traditions of this notable holiday. Whether you're looking to observe ancient shamanic rituals, participate in traditional dancing with your family, or learn to make traditional Korean sweets, there is a venue for you in Seoul this Chuseok. (Source: Monthly SEOUL) |
