HAPPY CHU SOK DAYS, Office Closed 23 Sep to 26 Sep Due to Holidays

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HAPPY CHU SOK  DAY       Korea - Chu'sok The meaning of Chu Suk is easiest described as, "Bountiful Abundance". Chu Suk is a very carefree time in Korea, during this day happiness and joy seem to be in everyone's lives. Chu'sok is the Korean Thanksgiving festival, a time when Koreans gather to commemorate their ancestors, to honor their memories and to be with their families. This harvest moon festival is performed on the 15'th day of the 8'th lunar month, ie, on 24th of September. Early on this morning, Koreans perform an ancestor worship ritual with an offer of food made of new crops to thank their ancestors for giving them good fortune. Legend Ch'usok is believed to have originated during the ancient Shilla Kingdom, when a month-long weaving festival was held. For the contest, the king divided the city into teams and appointed princesses to lead them. The king announced the winner on the day of the eighth full moon and the losing team had to provide food, drink, and entertainment and a party involving the whole city followed. Celebration Ch'usok is celebrated by farmers and city dwellers, and everybody can have fun on this day. For the women these kinds of festivals are a very good day for them, because they can feel free, and not hide themselves when they want go out. For the men it was also very fun, but they had a lot of parties to make themselves happy. Family members come from all parts of the country to visit their ancestral homes. So they go to their graves and they bow and also give them very special food which they made for the festival so probably their ancestors will be very happy too. Food Eaten During Ch'usok On this day, the Koreans make rice based preparations. Though they eat rice and other foods in their normal days but on Ch'usok, they make lots of things special for their ancestors. The rice cake, "Songphyun" is made of rice, beans, sesame seeds, & chestnuts. The Koreans eat Songpyon, the full-moon rice cakes stuffed with sesame, beans, chestnuts, or Chinese dates, Khaegangjong, YakGwa and yultanja, prepared out of rice flour, chestnuts and honey as a special food in Ch'usok. Song Pyun is made out of rice flour and newly harvested grains and fruits. Khaegangjong is made out of sesame seeds.   OTHER CELEBERATION LIKE AS CHU SOK   Following are the various different names and their unique way of celebration of Pongal festival. Harvest festival is celebrated internationally with their own distinct names and rituals. Throughout the course of mankind's history, the bountiful harvest has been celebrated with ceremonies of giving thanks. Prior to the establishment of formal religions, many believed that the crops contained spirits which caused the crops to grow and to die. For everyone, a good harvesting season brings with them joy, happiness and contentment. So cultures all over the world including Japanese, Indians, Romans, Chinese and Korean have special day when all give thanks for a bountiful harvest. The names, rituals and the tradition of these festival may differ in their forms and presentations. But their spirit is same, ie, a day set aside to reflect on nature's blessings. Following are some of the international names of harvest festival, that depict the spectra of celebration as practiced by these different cultures. Korea - Chu'sok Usually held in the month of September or October, this Korean harvest festival is marked by the rising of a full "Harvest Moon." Ch'usok is usually described as a kind of Thanksgiving for a good harvest, but it is really an ancient holiday dedicated to the ancestors. Families gather from all over the country and from overseas for the great holiday. Japan - Tori no Ichi "Tori-no-ichi" is a festival of Japan held in the month of November. The festival is also called "Otori-sama.". The festival is lively with handclasp and shouts for deals. It starts at midnight with a sound of Japanese dram and continues for 24 hours. The festival becomes livelier as the night goes on. You may not interest in rakes but will enjoy the lively festival of "Tori-no-ishi." Sri Lanka - Pongal or Ulavar Thirunaal The rituals of Pongal celebrated in Sri Lanka is almost similar to the Indian Tamils and it refers to boiling rice in a pot for consumption. The sun gives life to the rice. The instruments of this transmutation are the pot and the oxen who assist the farmers in preparing the rice fields and threshing the grains. United States - Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated in America, generally observed as an expression of gratitude to God. It is an occasion to give thanks to God for the bounty of the autumn harvest. In the United States, the holiday is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. China - August Moon Festival The August Moon Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most celebrated Chinese holidays. It is held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. Chinese families celebrate the end of the harvest season with a big feast. Unlike the American Thanksgiving dinner, the Chinese have mooncakes instead of grandma' apple pie. Friends and relatives also send mooncakes to each other as a way of giving thanks. Vietnam - Tet Trung Thu Tet Trung Thu is a wonderful, ancient festival of Vietnam that revolves around children. The Festival dates back as far as 15-20,000 years ago in Southeast Asia, and is traditionally held on the 15th day of the 8th Lunar Month. An important to families in Vietnam for many years, originally this Festival came about as a way for parents to make up for lost time with their children after harvest season. Israel - Succoth The week long holiday of Succoth begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Tishri. It is usually held in September and October. Succoth occurs at harvest time, and has elements of a harvest festival. Thus, it is also the Jewish Thanksgiving because it is known as the "Festival of the Harvest". Other names of this festival are Sukkot, Festival of the Booths, Jewish Harvest Festival and Feast of Tabernacle. Africa America - Kwanzaa Kwanzaa, which means "first fruits of the harvest" in the African language Kiswahili, is a popular harvest festival and has gained tremendous acceptance among the African American people. Since its founding in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa has come to be observed by more than18 million people world wide. This festival runs from December 26 to January 1 and over this seven days, people of African descent come together to celebrate family, community, culture and the bonds that tie them together as a people. They also remember their heritage, give thanks for the good things they have and rejoice in the goodness of life. Africa - Yam Festival The yam festival marks the end of an abundant food-producing harvest. African people have always had festivals at the time of the harvest. In Ghana the Yam Festival (Homowo) lasts three days. The festival begins with a cleansing ceremony to honor family members who have died. Farmers give thanks to the gods who ensure a good harvest. Twins and triplets are honored during this time as a special gift from God.

 

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