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Published On: Apr 26, 2006 10:02 PM
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Published On: Apr 26, 2006 10:02 PM
Happy Chusok, Everybody!
I could have sworn that I wrote last year about
Chusok, but I can't seem to find the entry. Oh well.
The Koreans celebrate Chusok at the time of the Harvest Moon (being the 8th full moon of the year, if I recall correctly), usually in September or October. It's a three-day event, and the biggest holiday of the year. Families gather at their ancient homeplaces to venerate their ancestors (which may have been part of the reason I had the whole "Family" thing stuck in my head). PBS does a better job of explaining it than I do.
So, being a firm believer that heathen holidays are tied to the land and the seasons, and not to some mystical wheel, I chose to celebrate Chusok in lieu of Winternights. Because I'm in Korea and my known ancestors are in Kentucky, it wasn't practical for me to go to the graveyard and such, so I made a feast to honor my ancestors, and put a plate upon the altar here in my quarters.
(This isn't a food post, so if you're hoping for recipes, then look elsewhere.)
The Menu:
Pork Neckbones with Rice and Gravy
Black-eyed Peas
Cornbread
House of Grace Tea
Chocolate Pound Cake
Y'see, my ancestors have been in the South for about 200 years. These are foods they would understand and approve. My great-grandmother used to cook pork neckbones similar to the way I did tonight. Everything was made from scratch, as much as possible (I didn't slaughter the pig, nor did I grind the corn, pick the peas or rice, etc., but nothing came from a mix or powder except for part of the tea). I worked hard and put money, time, sweat and love into preparing a meal that I could share with my ancestors.
Honor your ancestors, because it's the right thing to do (and if you're a pragmatist, remember that they are the source of your luck)! And as Tiny Tim would say if he had been a heathen stuck in Korea, "Happy Chusok! Aesir, Vanir, disir, ancestors and land wights bless us, every one!"
The Koreans celebrate Chusok at the time of the Harvest Moon (being the 8th full moon of the year, if I recall correctly), usually in September or October. It's a three-day event, and the biggest holiday of the year. Families gather at their ancient homeplaces to venerate their ancestors (which may have been part of the reason I had the whole "Family" thing stuck in my head). PBS does a better job of explaining it than I do.
So, being a firm believer that heathen holidays are tied to the land and the seasons, and not to some mystical wheel, I chose to celebrate Chusok in lieu of Winternights. Because I'm in Korea and my known ancestors are in Kentucky, it wasn't practical for me to go to the graveyard and such, so I made a feast to honor my ancestors, and put a plate upon the altar here in my quarters.
(This isn't a food post, so if you're hoping for recipes, then look elsewhere.)
The Menu:
Pork Neckbones with Rice and Gravy
Black-eyed Peas
Cornbread
House of Grace Tea
Chocolate Pound Cake
Y'see, my ancestors have been in the South for about 200 years. These are foods they would understand and approve. My great-grandmother used to cook pork neckbones similar to the way I did tonight. Everything was made from scratch, as much as possible (I didn't slaughter the pig, nor did I grind the corn, pick the peas or rice, etc., but nothing came from a mix or powder except for part of the tea). I worked hard and put money, time, sweat and love into preparing a meal that I could share with my ancestors.
Honor your ancestors, because it's the right thing to do (and if you're a pragmatist, remember that they are the source of your luck)! And as Tiny Tim would say if he had been a heathen stuck in Korea, "Happy Chusok! Aesir, Vanir, disir, ancestors and land wights bless us, every one!"
(My camera tends to wash things out unless it has ungodsly amounts of light. This is the ancestral plate.)
Posted: Sun - September 18, 2005 at 09:53 PM