Harvest Moon Festival, also known as Mid-Autumn Festival or Mooncake Festival, is held every year on the 15th of the eighth lunar month in South Korea. In Korea, the festival is known as Chuseok and is held to commemorate the fall harvest and to honor one's ancestors. This year's Harvest Moon Festival will take place on September 10th, and the day of Honoring ancestors and feasting will include many other activities such as family reunions, gift giving, and athletic events. Let's take a closer look at the Harvest Moon Festival.
| Event | Harvest Moon Festival |
|---|---|
| Date | September 10, 2022 |
| Day | Saturday |
| Significance | Held to honor one's ancestors and commemorate the fall harvest |
| Observed by | South Korea |
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Harvest Moon Festival: History
The day is observed by worshiping the full moon and paying respect to the ancestors as a way to mark and express gratitude for the good harvest.
The celebration of the day is believed to have begun during the reign of the third king of the kingdom of Silla (57 BC - 935 AD), when two princesses of the Silla Dynasty competed against one another in a weaving competition that lasted for a month and concluded on the 15th day of the lunar month. According to the competition's rules, the loser was required to provide a feasting treat.
Many people also think that Chuseok may have its roots in ancient harvest moon shamanic celebrations. This suggests that the festival may have started as a ritual worship since it includes worship and offerings to the deity.
Today, Koreans visit their hometowns to celebrate the good harvest, reuniting with family and feasting, where the festival is very popular for Korean traditional food such as songpyeon. Many traditions, such as offering food to the ancestors and paying homapage, are observed on this day.
Similar Festivals arround the World
Harvest Moon Festival is one of Korea's major festivals, celebrated with a massive celebration all across the country. However, there are many significant festivals celebrated to commemorate a Good Harvest, such as the festival of Thanks Giving, which is celebrated in order to mark a good harvest in America and Canada, but the Harvest Moon Festival and Thanks Giving festival are completely different from each other as Chuseok is commonly incorrectly translated as "Korean Thanksgiving."
There are other festivals that celebrate a good harvest and pay homage to ancestors, such as Pitru Paksha, where Hindus pay homage to their ancestors, particularly through food offerings, and Baisakhi, an Indian festival that celebrates the harvest.
The Tsukimi festival of Japan, which honors the autumn moon, is a variant of the Harvest Moon festival, as is the Mid-Autumn festival of China.
Similar Festivals that honors the Ancestors: Spirit Festival, Obon Festival and Mexico's Day of the Dead.
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Harvest Moon Festival: Celebrations
In Korea, the day is observed as a national holiday, with people flocking to their hometowns to celebrate with their families. On this day, people celebrate the abundant harvest and pray for everyone's good will. The majority of people on the occasion visit their ancestors' tombs and offer food and wine as a custom ritual and part of the celebration. The rest of the day was filled with gift-giving and athletic events such as tug-of-war battles, archery contests, and wrestling matches.
The day also includes the preparation of the traditional Korean rice cake Songpyeon, which is eaten throughout the festival and shared with family and friends.
You can also participate in the celebration by spreading awareness and celebrating the festival with Koreans on social media platforms, as well as learning more about their culture.
Harvest Moon Festival: FAQ
1. When is the Harvest Moon Festival observed?
The Harvest Moon Festival is held every year on the 15th of the eighth lunar month.
2. What festivals are similar to the Harvest Moon Festival?
Mid-Autumn Festival (in China), Tsukimi (in Japan), Tt Trung Thu (in Vietnam), Uposatha of Ashvini/Krittika, and Pitru Paksha (in India) are similar festivals to the harvest moon festival.
3. How can I participate in the Harvest Moon Festival?
Raise awareness and learn about the Harvest Moon Festival and all other similar festivals that take place concurrently with the Harvest Moon Festival.