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Korean Focus “Chusok
Festival” Celebration of the Harvest
Moon |
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Chusok |
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Autumn |
“Chusok ("fall evening") is a Korean "Harvest
Moon" (Han-gawi) festival set on the 15th day of
the eighth lunar moon. Chusok, also known as the
Korean Thanksgiving or Mid-Autumn Festival, is one of the most celebrated
Korean holidays. It occurs during the harvest season. Thus, Korean families
take this time to thank their ancestors for providing them with rice and
fruits.
The celebration starts on the night
before Chusok and ends on the day after the holiday.
Thus, many Korean families take three days off from work to get together with
family and friends.
The celebration starts with a family
get-together at which rice cakes called "Songphyun"
are served. These special rice cakes are made of rice, beans, sesame seeds, and
chestnuts. Then the family pays respect to ancestors by visiting their tombs
and offering them rice and fruits. The Koreans visit the graves of their
ancestors to bow and clean the area for the coming winter. In the evening,
children wear their favorite hanbok (traditional
Korean clothing) and dance under the bright moon in a large circle. They play
games and sing songs. Like the American Thanksgiving, Chusok
is the time to celebrate the family and give thanks for their blessings.
Community activities include masked
dance, Kanggangsuwollae, an ancient circle dance,
tug-of-wars and the tortoise game, kobuk-nori, in
which two men dress as a tortoise and tour the villagedancing
and performing for food and drink. Most of all, Ch'usok
is a time to give thanks for the autumn harvest and reaffirm familial and
community ties.”( www.chinadaily.com.cn/
english/doc/2001-09/11/ )
Any volunteers for the
tortoise game?
Let’s join together, to
celebrate our own Korean-American family, KFC.
Where: Niederman Family
Farm (Same as last year)
www.harvestmoonmaze.com
Phone:
779-6184 (in case you get lost)
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Time:
Come as early as you like, but KFC
Festivities will begin at
(bring chairs and flashlights),
Tickets: You
will buy your tickets when you arrive, but please R.S.V.P. so we know how many
to expect. Choose the package that fits
you:
*****Children
five and under are ……….can you believe it – FREE!
$7.50
– Unlimited access to the corn maze and one ride on the hay wagon.
$6.00 – Corn maze only.
$3.00 – Hayride only.
$2.00
– Entrance only, no activities included except spending time with our group at
the bonfire.
There
is also a paintball field and rental equipment for those of you are daring! Check the
website for details. Maybe some of our
teenagers and wild adults may have a run at it.
Bring: Snacks for kids/adults (if your last name
begins with A-L)
Drinks for kids/adults, (if your last name begins
with M-Z)
Chairs
and Flashlights
RSVP: Amy
Martin Elfner Prefer email at armelfner@yahoo.com Specify # of children
and adults. Hope you all can make it!
Rain-out: An
email will be posted on the yahoo newsgroup if cancellation is needed. If you
are unsure, call Kristen Smith or Amy Martin Elfner
Directions: I-275
to I-75 North. Take exit 19, turning
left onto
(continued on next
page)
Chusok Websites:
http://www.ibike.org/ibike/korea/east/9-Taebaek.htm
(a journal entry from a bike tour in
http://www.clickasia.co.kr/about/h815.htm
(a brief description of Chusok)
http://www.saucybeige.com/photoblog/archives/000087.html
a sampling of gifts carried in stores for family members to take to their
families during Chusok
Other Interesting
Websites I Came Upon: http://www.koreanquarterly.org/main/default.asp?cat=home
has anyone seen heard of this magazine
http://www.koreanfocus.org/culturalmaterials.html
Presentations including my favorite:
http://www.stmnftsc.melb.catholic.edu.au/kidseyes/korea/