Every year, as autumn arrives, South Korea celebrates one of its most important traditional holidays: Chuseok. Also known as Hangawi, this holiday is a special time for families to come together, honor their ancestors and celebrate the year’s harvest.
Often compared to American Thanksgiving, Chuseok has a history and traditions of its own. Family gatherings, ancestral ceremonies, visits to family graves, traditional clothing, folk games and songpyeon are all part of this special time in the Korean calendar.
But what does Chuseok really mean? When does this holiday take place, and what traditions are associated with it?
What is Chuseok?
Chuseok is one of Korea’s three major traditional holidays, alongside Seollal, the Lunar New Year, and Dano. It takes place on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, around the autumn full moon.
The Korean term Chuseok (추석) can be translated as “autumn evening.” The holiday is also known as Hangawi (한가위). The word Han means “great,” while gawi refers to the middle of autumn.
Traditionally, Chuseok is associated with the harvest and abundance. It is a time to give thanks for the year’s crops, honor previous generations and spend time with loved ones.
Today, Chuseok remains a major family holiday in South Korea. Many Koreans take advantage of the public holidays to return to their hometown or home region and spend time with their families.
When is Chuseok?
Unlike holidays based on the Gregorian calendar, the date of Chuseok changes every year because it follows the lunar calendar.
In 2026, Chuseok will take place on Friday, September 25, as part of a public holiday period running from September 24 to 26, 2026.
Chuseok 2026: Key dates
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September 24, 2026: beginning of the Chuseok holiday period
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September 25, 2026: day of Chuseok
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September 26, 2026: final day of the holiday period
This period is also marked by major travel across the country. Korean families often travel long distances to spend a few days together.
Why is Chuseok celebrated?
The origins of Chuseok date back centuries, and the holiday has historically been closely connected to the agricultural cycle and the autumn harvest.
By this time of year, much of the harvest has been completed. Families have access to fresh, abundant produce that they can share and use to prepare special meals.
Gratitude is therefore at the heart of Chuseok: gratitude for the harvest, for family and for ancestors.
The full moon also plays an important role in the symbolism surrounding Chuseok. The 15th day of the eighth lunar month corresponds to a particularly significant full moon, traditionally associated with abundance and prosperity.
The main traditions of Chuseok
The traditions of Chuseok are numerous and can vary between families and regions. Some customs have evolved over time, but several remain closely associated with this Korean holiday.
Charye (차례): honoring ancestors
Charye (차례) is a ceremony held to honor ancestors.
Family members prepare a table with various foods, including freshly harvested rice, fruit, special dishes and songpyeon. These foods are presented as offerings to the ancestors.
After the ceremony, the family gathers around the meal. This sharing of the offerings is known as eumbok (음복), referring to receiving or sharing the blessings associated with the offerings.
Charye is also practiced during Seollal, the Korean Lunar New Year.
Seongmyo (성묘): visiting family graves
Another important Chuseok tradition in Korea is Seongmyo (성묘), the practice of visiting the graves of ancestors.
Families visit the graves to pay their respects and traditionally maintain the area around them. Beolcho (벌초) refers to clearing weeds and cleaning the area around the graves before the ceremony.
Seongmyo reflects the importance placed on family ties, remembrance and respect for previous generations in Korean culture.
Coming together as a family
Beyond the ceremonies, Chuseok is above all a time for family reunions.
Family members gather for meals, catch up with one another and spend time together. For many Koreans, returning to their hometown or home region is one of the most important parts of the holiday.
This also explains why Chuseok is one of the busiest travel periods of the year, with heavy traffic at train stations, on highways and at airports as millions of people travel to see their families.
What do people eat during Chuseok?
Food plays an essential role during Chuseok. Meals are prepared using seasonal ingredients and are often shared with the whole family.
Songpyeon: a Chuseok staple
It is impossible to talk about Chuseok food without mentioning songpyeon (송편).
These small rice cakes (tteok (떡)) are recognizable by their half-moon shape. They can be filled with different ingredients, including sesame, beans or chestnuts.
Traditionally, families prepare songpyeon together before Chuseok. Making them is therefore a family activity in itself and an opportunity to spend time together.
Songpyeon are generally steamed over pine needles, which give them their distinctive aroma.
Other traditional Chuseok dishes
A Chuseok meal is not limited to songpyeon. Some of the dishes traditionally associated with the holiday include:
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jeon (전), savory pan-fried preparations made with a variety of ingredients;
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japchae (잡채), sweet potato glass noodles stir-fried with vegetables and other ingredients;
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various seasonal vegetables and dishes;
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fresh fruit, particularly apples and pears.
Chuseok tables are therefore particularly generous, showcasing the produce available after the autumn harvest.
Hanbok and traditional clothing
The hanbok (한복), Korea’s traditional clothing, is also associated with major occasions and traditional holidays.
In the past, wearing new clothes for Chuseok was part of the holiday customs. Today, hanbok is no longer routinely worn by families during Chuseok gatherings, but it remains very much part of cultural events and traditional celebrations.
During the Chuseok period, it is not uncommon to see people wearing hanbok at historic palaces, traditional villages or cultural events.
Traditional Chuseok games and activities
Chuseok is also a holiday centered around sharing and celebration.
Several traditional games and performances have historically been associated with this time of year. These include:
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ganggangsullae (강강술래), a traditional group dance performed in a circle;
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ssireum (씨름), a form of traditional Korean wrestling;
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talchum (탈춤), masked dance theater;
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samulnori (사물놀이), a musical performance featuring traditional percussion instruments.
These activities bring another dimension to Chuseok, allowing people to celebrate together beyond family gatherings and ancestral ceremonies.
Chuseok today: between tradition and modern life
While many Chuseok traditions remain very much alive, the way this holiday is celebrated has naturally evolved.
Contemporary Korean society is very different from that of previous generations. Families may now be spread across different cities or even different countries, and not everyone follows ancestral ceremonies in the same way.
Nevertheless, Chuseok retains a strong family and cultural significance.
For some, the holiday remains centered around ancestral ceremonies and family meals. For others, it is mainly a few days of rest spent with loved ones. It is also a time when cultural events offer opportunities to discover or rediscover Korean traditions.
Chuseok 2026: where to celebrate the Korean holiday in France
You do not need to travel to Korea to discover Chuseok and Korean traditions.
In France, several events celebrate Korean culture around this time of year. In Paris, the Jardin d’Acclimatation is hosting a weekend dedicated to Chuseok on September 19 and 20, 2026.
The program includes performances, Korean food, cultural activities, workshops, K-pop and entertainment designed to introduce visitors to Korean culture in a festive atmosphere.
The event takes place just a few days before the official Chuseok 2026 date, which falls on September 25.
It is therefore a great opportunity to discover the Korean harvest festival and some of its traditions without leaving Paris.
Chuseok: a celebration that keeps Korean culture alive
Much more than a simple harvest festival, Chuseok brings together many different aspects of Korean culture: family, food, ancestral customs, respect for previous generations and the joy of coming together.
Some practices have changed over time, but the central idea remains the same: taking time to reunite and celebrate what matters.
And perhaps that is what makes Chuseok so interesting to discover today. Behind the ceremonies, traditional dishes and iconic clothing, this holiday offers a window into a Korean culture that is deeply connected to its history while constantly evolving.
At Shifumie, we share this desire to introduce people to Korea beyond trends. Our selection of Korean skincare reflects the same desire to explore the expertise and rituals that contribute to the richness of contemporary Korean beauty.
