Happy Chuseok! (Korean Thanksgiving)

Learning about other cultures' holidays is one of the many interesting things you can learn about when you host a student from another country.

From September 17 to September 19, Koreans all over the world are celebrating their Korean Thanksgiving Holiday, called "Chuseok".  Did you know this is the single most important holiday in Korea?
Here is some interesting information on the Korean holiday:

"Early on Chuseok morning, the family gathers together to perform traditional ancestral rites. A feast of traditional Korean foods is prepared for the memorial service, after which everyone enjoys the festive meal and exchanges gifts."

"During Chuseok, people nationwide leave the city in order to return back to their family's hometown for the holiday (traditionally to visit paternal relatives). With an amazing 75% of the population on the road during this mass exodus, highways and roads throughout the country are extremely congested. Since train and bus tickets are sold out at least a month in advance, careful planning is an absolute must for anyone planning to travel during the holiday period." 

"Another aspect of the pre-holiday rush is shopping for customary Chuseok gifts. Gift boxes of meat, fish, fruit, spam, tuna, and health food are on display at department stores, convenience stores, and supermarkets. Others go for the more convenient option of gift certificates, available at various department stores. Needless to say, the nation's postal service and private home delivery services face one of their busiest seasons of the year during the Chuseok holiday. "

"Some of the traditional customs have been modified in recent times, as some individuals and families are choosing to spend the Chuseok holiday as personal vacation rather than family holiday. Families may order food and conduct a simplified memorial ritual, giving family members more free time during the holiday. Some people use the extra time to travel with families or friends or attend cultural or leisure activities. Also, given the high congestion on roads leading out from the metropolitan area to other regions, an increasing number of parents opt to visit their children in Seoul, in what is known as the "reverse exodus." 

*To learn how you can qualify to host an international student and share in new holidays and traditions, please send an email for application to:  homestay@everydayinteraction.com

Visit our website for more information! http://www.everydayinteraction.com/


info and photo source: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SI/SI_EN_3_6.jsp?gotoPage=1&cid=1090515&out_service