Chusok Traditions: Remembering Ancestors
Traditional celebrations usually include a visit to cleaned and cleared ancestral graves and a memorial rite (“jesa”) with food offerings and to-the-floor bowing (traditionally this is only done by male family members). A shrine to family ancestors is set up to deceased family members and offerings include stacks of fresh fruit and nuts, alcohol, and savory dishes. Some Christian families omit the ancestral table and instead do a short service with ancestors in mind; other non-religious and less traditional Korean families just celebrate Chusok with a family feast.
