But as one month turns into the next, Korean Thanksgiving has arrived. It also happens to coincide with the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival this year, which occurred on October 1st.
Thanksgiving is roughly two months away – September has quietly faded into October, and pretty soon, we will all be having a feast followed by a shopping spree – even if those traditional activities look a bit different this year due to current circumstances all over the world caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. But as one month turns into the next, Korean Thanksgiving has arrived. It also happens to coincide with the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival this year, which occurred on October 1st. Korean Thanksgiving is called Chuseok, so now let’s learn more about it! This year, Chuseok runs from September 30th to October 2nd.
A Big Family Reunion
Much like the Thanksgiving celebration that we are more commonly familiar with, the Chuseok season centers on time spent with family. In other words, it functions as a big family reunion at its core. Korean families also gather to show appreciation towards their ancestors for being blessed with a bountiful harvest. One of the biggest traditions is the making of songpyeon – a rice cake that the entire family joins in to help prepare as the concept of family is of the utmost importance in Korean culture and society.
Traditions
There are more traditions in play besides family gatherings. A more recent tradition involves gifts and gift-giving; relatives, friends, and business partners all exchange presents. Some items that are frequently involved in this tradition include beef, apples, shampoo, and even Spam. Plus, there is an intriguing overlap between Korean Thanksgiving, American Thanksgiving, the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, and the Vendimia grape harvest festival in Argentina.
Types of Dishes
So now let’s talk about one of the best parts of any holiday occasion: the food! As we alluded to above, songpyeon is a half-moon shaped rice cake similar to the moon cakes that are a customary part of the Mid-Autumn Festival over in China. Another type of rice cake is called youngyang chaltteok or a healthy sweet rice cake. Maybe you’re in the mood for something savory? In that case, you’ll want to investigate the following dishes this Korean Thanksgiving:
- modeumjeon (pan-fried zucchini, shrimp, and fish in egg batter);
- Kkaennip jeon (pan-fried stuffed perilla leaves);
- Gogi wanjajeon (egg-battered and pan-fried Korean meatballs);
- Nokdujeon (mung bean pancakes);
- Spicy braised pork ribs (braised short ribs called galbijjim use beef, but you can also substitute in chicken or spicy pork!)
Get All Your Asian Groceries at Lotte Plaza Market
Lotte Plaza Market is your one-stop-shop for all of your Korean and Asian grocery needs. With more than 10 locations in Maryland and Virginia, this growing market is always expanding and opening new markets to serve our customers better. Since we opened in 1976, our goal has always been to provide the best customer service and groceries to our customers. For answers to all of your questions, please email us at LottePlaza.com.