DNA in Manila

Three of my online students arranged for different schedules for next week because of Chuseok. Prior to teaching English to Koreans online, I didn't know what Chuseok was, much more that Chuseok is one of the Koreans most important holidays, together with the Lunar New Year. That's why I and made my students them tell me everything they can - in English - about the holiday. Chuseok is one of the most significant holidays in Korea. It occurs on the 15th day of the 8th month in the Korean lunar calendar. For this year, it falls on September 25. On this day, families gather together, express thanks to ancestors for a plentiful harvest, and wish for another good year. This is often recognized by foreigners as the Korean version of Thanksgiving Day. It is a day of sharing. Koreans perform ancestral worship rituals early in the morning. They often visit the tombs of immediate ancestors to trim plants and clean the area around the tomb, and offer food, drink, and crops to their ancestors. Harvest crops are attributed to the blessing of ancestors, and Chuseok offers Koreans a unique opportunity to refresh their memory and gratitude to their ancestors. Of course, like in any celebration, there's food - a lot of it! One of the major foods prepared and eaten during the Chuseok holiday is Songpyeon , a crescent-shaped rice cake filled with a sweet stuffing made of sesame seeds, beans, or chestnuts which is steamed upon pine needles. Looks yummy! There are also traditional games and activities that are done during this holiday, such as the traditional circle dance, Ganggangsulle, where women gather at a specified place and go around in circles chanting "Gang-gang-sul-le." Although my students are dreading the heavy traffic they'll endure when they go to their respective hometowns, they are excited for the Chuseok holiday. Who wouldn't be? They'll see their relatives, there'll be lots of food, activities, and - the best thing of all - three days of no classes! Happy Chuseok, everyone!