PHOTOS: Chuseok holiday is approaching

Multicultural families experience making songpyeon (traditional Korean rice cakes) at Busan Freedom Hall, Sept. 23. Yonhap
SEOUL, September 24 (AJP) - As South Korea moves into autumn, families are beginning preparations for Chuseok, one of the nation’s two most significant holidays alongside Seollal (Lunar New Year).

Often referred to as "Korean Thanksgiving," the holiday is a time for family reunions, expressing gratitude to ancestors, and celebrating the year's harvest.

Chuseok, which literally means "autumn evening," falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month when the full moon is at its brightest. Its origins are rooted in Korea's agricultural history, and it has long been a time to give thanks for a bountiful harvest.

In the days leading up to the holiday, a common sight across the country are families making trips to ancestral graves. This practice, known as beolcho, involves clearing away weeds and tidying up the burial sites, a sign of respect and devotion. Many will also perform seongmyo, an ancestral memorial rite, at the grave itself. These rituals are a way to honor those who came before and to ensure their spirits are at peace.
 Foreign residents participate in a songpyeon making experience at the Incheon Free Economic Zone's Global Center. Yonhap A burial site at the Incheon Family Park, Sept. 21/ Yonhap
 A burial site at the Incheon Family Park, Sept. 21/ Yonhap
 People clear weeds from an overgrown grave on Gapado Island in Seogwipo, Jeju, Sept. 21. Yonhap A Chuseok product discount event held at E-mart Yongsan in Seoul/ Yonhap
CHO BOHEE 부장 jobo@ajunews.com