Every fall, one of the biggest holidays in Korea rolls around, and it’s all about family, gratitude, and a table absolutely loaded with food. Welcome to Chuseok! This year, Chuseok falls on Friday, September 25, 2026, with the official holiday running from September 24 through 26.
What Is Chuseok?
Chuseok (추석, pronounced choo-suhk), sometimes called Korean Thanksgiving, falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month — usually landing in September or early October. The name literally means “autumn evening,” a nod to the full harvest moon that lights up the sky during the celebration.
At its core, Chuseok is a harvest festival. It’s a moment to give thanks for a good year of crops, honor ancestors, and reconnect with family — often traveling long distances to make it happen. In fact, Chuseok triggers one of the biggest travel rushes in the world, with millions of people in Korea heading back to their hometowns over a three-day holiday period.
A Little History
Chuseok’s roots trace back to Korea’s past as an agrarian society, which is why it’s also known as Hangawi. On that day, a full harvest moon would rise in the sky, and families gathered to give thanks to their ancestors for a plentiful harvest. Historians believe the name Chuseok has been in use since at least the Unified Silla period (668–935 CE), and the holiday’s other name, Hangawi, traces back even further to gabae, a month-long weaving competition among women in the Silla capital that culminated in a feast on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month.
Chuseok continued to evolve over the centuries — by the Goryeo dynasty (918–1392), records describe families honoring ancestors, visiting gravesites, and celebrating under the full moon. It wasn’t until the Joseon dynasty (1392–1910), though, that Chuseok became firmly established as one of Korea’s three major seasonal holidays, alongside Seollal and Dano. As Confucian ancestor worship took hold, home ceremonies and gravesite visits became defining Chuseok traditions — the same rituals families carry on today.
Food and Symbolism
No Korean holiday is complete without food, and Chuseok might be the most food-centric of them all. The star of the table is songpyeon (송편) — small, half-moon-shaped rice cakes filled with sweet ingredients like sesame seeds, chestnuts, or red beans, then steamed over pine needles for a subtle, earthy aroma.
Beyond songpyeon, tables are filled with japchae (the glass noodle dish that inspired our Sweet Potato Noodles), jeon (savory pancakes), fresh seasonal fruit, and a variety of banchan (side dishes that inspired our hot and cold toppings).
Family Gathering and Ancestral Rites
A big part of Chuseok is charye, a ceremony honoring ancestors with a carefully arranged table of food. Many families also visit ancestral gravesites to trim the grass and pay respects — a practice called seongmyo. It’s a holiday that blends celebration with reflection, joy with remembrance.
Chuseok in Korea vs. the U.S.
In Korea, Chuseok is a nationwide event — businesses close, highways clog with traffic, train tickets sell out months in advance, and nearly everyone is either traveling or hosting. In the U.S., Chuseok looks a little different. Without a national holiday to mark it, Korean American families often adjust traditions around work schedules, gathering on the nearest weekend instead of the exact date. But the heart of it stays the same: family, food, and gratitude.
For many Korean Americans, food becomes an even more important way to hold onto tradition. Recreating songpyeon, japchae, or a favorite family banchan recipe becomes a way of staying connected to home, even thousands of miles away.
How We’re Celebrating
We’re marking Chuseok the best way we know how for Loyalty Members only: with more bowls to share. From 9/21 through 9/27, grab two Chicken, Spicy Chicken, Korean Crispy Chicken or Organic Tofu Original Bowls for just $15 — because a holiday built on gathering and sharing deserves a deal built the same way. Must download the app by 9/20 to receive offer.
2 for $15 Bowls Fine Print: Offer valid for two (2) Chicken, Spicy Chicken, Korean Crispy Chicken, or Tofu Original Bowls for $15 pre-tax. Offer valid 9/21/2026 through 9/27/2026. Valid for redemption both in-store and online. To redeem in-store, scan Reward at checkout. To redeem online, add your two desired bowls to your cart and apply the reward at checkout. Not valid on or does not include premium items, add-ons, BIBICup, nor online-exclusive items. Limit one redemption per transaction. Offer valid for redemption once per day. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Void where prohibited. Terms subject to change.
Why It Resonates with Us
At BIBIBOP, we build our whole menu around the idea that Korean food is meant to be shared — bowls piled with color, mixed together, and enjoyed with people you care about. It’s the same spirit that fills a Chuseok table: everyone pitching in, everything mixed and shared, nobody eating alone. Whether you’re gathering around a table of songpyeon and japchae this season, or just craving a little taste of Korea between traditions, we hope your Chuseok is full of good food and even better company.