Last Monday was Chuseok, one of Korea’s most-widely celebrated traditional holidays. Chuseok is also called “hangawi한가위” in Korean and written as “jungchujeol중추절” in Chinese characters. Jungchujeol중추절, which means a holiday that falls in the middle of autumn, was so named because the full moon on August 15^th by the lunar calendar usually fell right in the middle of the season. The blistering heat of the summer has diminished considerably and the harsh cold of the winter is yet to come, so it is a perfect time for work or play. The fields are aplenty with ripe crops ready for harvest and farmers who had worked hard since the spring stand proud of their work. Today, the long Chuseok holiday comes to an end. Koreans who had traveled far to visit their loved ones must be tired, but also uplifted since their hearts have been recharged with the laughter and love of their families. 

We also hope that Koreans living abroad don’t forget the clear autumn skies of their hometowns and find the energy to live their lives to the fullest. The first song we’re going to enjoy today is “Kwaejinachingching 쾌지나칭칭” sung by Arisu 아리수.

Music 1: Kwaejinachingching/ Sung by Arisu

In the old days, residents of rural villages would gather together on holidays like Chuseok and take part in a traditional folk music performance called “pungmulnori풍물놀이.” Musicians in a pungmulnori풍물놀이 band are not professionals, but farmers who found time during their busy farming work to learn musical instruments. Their skills would not be called refined, but their music was energetic and more vivid than any professionally recorded music on an album. When villagers got together to play traditional percussion instruments like the gong or double-sided drums, they would sing and dance and release all their pent-up stress. Pungmulnori풍물놀이 served an important role of bringing all the villagers together and fulfilling their sense of community. 

Some villages even held singing contests, with people competing for practical household items like pots or containers. The contest would draw people of all ages and backgrounds, from the elderly to kindergarteners. Anyone can sign up for the contest and have his or her time on the stage. Such village events were modest yet enjoyable in many ways. 

What kind of holiday memories are we making for our children these days? A great number of festivals are held all over Korea throughout the year, but it has become rare to see festivals for the locals to participate in and enjoy. It is about time that Korea resurrected village holiday traditions.

Music 2: Festival, third movement/ Gyeonggi Provincial Traditional Music Orchestra

That was the third movement of a piece titled “Festival,” performed by the Gyeonggi Provincial Traditional Music Orchestra. Seol설, Hanshik한식, Dano단오, and Chuseok are counted as Korea’s four great traditional holidays. But Koreans used to hold memorial services for gods and dead ancestors whenever there were special occasions to celebrate. If something good happened, Koreans would thank the gods and their ancestors for giving them good fortune. If a sad event took place or something was lacking, they would set up food offerings and pray earnestly to heaven to help them out. Their heartfelt appeals cannot be downplayed as mere superstition. Their faith in the beings that always stand protectively over them encouraged them to live another year.

We at “Sounds of Korea” wish all our listeners a bountiful and pleasant autumn and we will wrap up this week’s show with “Chugwondeokdam” 축원덕담 sung by Lee Kwang-soo.

Music 3:  Chugwondeokdam / sung by Lee Kwang-soo