Inside Korea's Chuseok Tradition: Ritual, Clothing, and Family Gift

October 8, 2025 | 09:03 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The people of South Korea are currently celebrating Chuseok, also known as Korea's Thanksgiving Day. It falls on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. This year, Chuseok falls on Monday, October 6, 2025, and the local government has declared holidays from October 5 to 8, 2025, extended to October 9 to also commemorate Hangul Day.

Chuseok is a time to give thanks for the harvest, strengthen family bonds, and celebrate Korea's cultural richness. Many people take advantage of this holiday to celebrate with their families in their hometowns or go on vacation to enjoy the autumn atmosphere through various traditional activities.

Chuseok Traditions

Antje, a German traveler who now lives in Korea, shares about Chuseok traditions through her blog Next Stop Korea. One of them is Charye, a ritual of honoring ancestors that is carried out at home or at the family grave. In this ceremony, families prepare various dishes and harvests as a form of gratitude and a prayer for blessings in the future.

During this celebration, some people wear hanbok, traditional Korean clothing, as a sign of respect for Korea's cultural heritage. Chuseok is also synonymous with mouthwatering dishes such as songpyeon (rice cakes filled with beans or sesame), japchae (stir-fried glass noodles), bulgogi (seasoned beef), and various types of jeon (Korean pancakes) made from fresh autumn harvest produce.

As cited from Asia Society, in addition to gathering and enjoying traditional dishes, the tradition of giving gifts has also become an important part of Chuseok's celebration in the modern era. This moment is seen as an opportunity to show gratitude and appreciation, not only to family, but also to friends and business associates.

A variety of Chuseok gift sets began to fill the shelves of supermarkets and department stores before the holiday. The choices vary, ranging from high-quality cuts of beef, fresh fruits, to packages containing traditional Korean snacks. Not to mention, practical items such as bath supplies and household necessities are also often chosen.

Similar Celebrations in Other Countries

However, the spirit of celebrating the harvest is not exclusive to South Korea. Several countries around the world also have similar traditions.

In China, people celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival known for the tradition of making and exchanging round mooncakes filled with red bean paste, symbolizing family unity and togetherness. Additionally, people light colorful lanterns, which have now become the iconic symbol of the festival, marking the beauty of the autumn night with lights that symbolize hope and luck.

Meanwhile, in the United States, Thanksgiving is celebrated every fourth Thursday of November as a way to give thanks for the harvest. This celebration originated from a feast between English Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe in 1621, with typical dishes such as turkey, pumpkin pie, and mashed potatoes, which remain traditional to this day.

From the southern hemisphere, Argentina also celebrates Vendimia, the National Grape Harvest Festival held in Mendoza at the beginning of March. This festival has been going on since the 17th century, commencing with the blessing of the grapes by the Archbishop of Mendoza and has now evolved into one of the largest harvest festivals in the world.

Annisa Nur Alimah contributed to the writing of this article.

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