9/25 Family Holiday

Talk about the family holidays in Korea.

There are two big family holidays in Korea. One of them is the Korean version of Thanksgiving called Chuseok. It's a three-day holiday, normally during the months of September or October. The reason the date changes is that it is based on the lunar calendar. During the family holidays, family members get together at one place. People visit their hometowns to see their relatives. They cook holiday food and eat together. They also hold memorials for their ancestors. They also visit their ancestors' graves to pay their respects. As everyone is on the move, it is very hard to get plane or train tickets during this time of year.

@ Speaking Tips: memorial

제사, 차례, 추모식

누군가를 기리는 추모식을 영어로는 memorial이라고 한다. 우리 조상을 기리는 의식인 제사나 차례를 표현하기에 가장 적합한 단어가 바로 이 memorial이다.

@ Traffic was a nightmare.  차가 끔찍하게 막혔어.

9/28 Chuseok

Talk about Chuseok.

Chuseok is one of the biggest Korean holidays.

It stems from the days when farmers harvested their yearly crops.
* stem from: ~에서 유래하다, ~에서 생겨나다, = originated from
ex> The story stems from historical documents.

Then they showed gratitude to their ancestors in a ritual called cha-rae.
* gratitude: 감사, 고마움
ex> My morning ritual consists of a bagel, coffee, and the newspaper.

People paid homage and shared the bountiful harvest with ancestors.
* pay homage: 경의를 표하다, pay respect, honor
* bountiful: 풍부한, 많은, abundant
ex> The soldiers paid homage to those who died in the war.

Today, people travel back to their hometowns and reunite with their relatives.

Families wake up in the wee hours to begin preparing a feast of foods.
* in the wee hours: 이른 새벽에
* feast: 연회, 잔치
ex> I heard rooster crow in the wee hours of the morning.

It is a time to reconnect and bond with loved ones.
ex> He wants time to bond with his newborn son.

Traditionally, the family would visit the gravesite of their ancestors and offer the spirits of departed food and drink.
* gravesite: 묘소
* departed: 고인, 고인이 된

This is an expression of filial devotion.
* filial: 자식의, 자식으로서의
ex> The artwork is an expression of the artist's political view.


@ Can you snake the drain for me?  하수구 좀 뚫어 줄 수 있어?

1. Her love of the ocean stems from living by the beach.
2. Have you paid homage to your ancestors?
3. I have a very strong bond with my dog.
4. Her cooking is an expression of love.