The Traffic Chaos Holiday in Korea

Friday the 13th of September likely was a nightmare for millions in South Korea. It was the weekend before one of the country’s most important holidays: Chuseok, also called the Korean Thanksgiving*. The holiday fell on September 16 this year, creating a four-day weekend. Many Koreans return to their family homes in the countryside for celebrations, leaving the capital in droves. The yearly outpouring creates enormous traffic jams, adding up to 10 hours to travel times. And the reason for all this chaos can be found high up in the sky.

Moon Worship in a High-Tech Country?

South Korea is known for its technology companies and fast internet. Why would such a high-tech culture still celebrate the Moon? The answer has two parts: Firstly, Chuseok (literally “autumn evening”) isn’t about the Moon but celebrates a good harvest. The autumn Full Moon is only used to set a date for the celebration. Secondly, Koreans are not alone in planning holidays by tracking Moon phases. Easter is based on the Full Moon, Ramadan depends on sighting the Moon, and some cultures determine the beginning of the new year by the Moon phase.

Humans have always closely followed the Moon and its journey through the sky—Chuseok is just another example of this ancient tradition. The origins of the Korean holiday are debated, but the Harvest Moon might have played a more central role in the beginning. This makes sense for a harvest celebration, since the autumn Full Moon is lighting up fields and orchards, giving people more time to harvest crops.

Chuseok is both an ancient ritual and a modern holiday, following the lunar calendar and impacting a high-tech society. To connect to their roots, Koreans travel home, spend time with their family and elders, and clean the graves of their ancestors. That is more than enough reason to spend a little more time in traffic.

417 Full Moon Holidays

Chuseok is one of 417 Full Moon holidays** in 2024 worldwide. Of these, only about a third (30.5%) are traditional Full Moon holidays such as Chuseok, Holi or Passover. These celebrations are planned using lunar calendars to make sure they fall on a certain Moon phase. The majority of Full Moon holidays, however, are accidental—such as this year’s Midsummer celebration in Europe.

Many of the planned Full Moon holidays are religious festivals, following lunar calendars like the Buddhist calendar. Others, like the Lunar New Year, follow ancient traditions to celebrate seasons and nature in general. Chuseok belongs in this last category, following the old Korean lunar calendar, which itself is based on the Chinese lunar calendar.

By the way: The upcoming Harvest Moon is fascinating, even if you are not interested in Chuseok. This September Full Moon is a “Super Harvest Moon” featuring a partial lunar eclipse. Check it out!

Conclusion: Chuseok Connects Past and Present

Chuseok is a time of deep cultural significance in South Korea, blending ancient traditions with modern life. As families gather to celebrate the harvest and honor their ancestors, the Full Moon serves as a timeless symbol connecting past and present. While the holiday brings about massive traffic jams and travel chaos, it’s a meaningful period of reflection and gratitude.

From its origins in the lunar calendar to its modern-day celebrations, Chuseok remains one of the most important holidays in South Korea, much like Thanksgiving in the USA.

Whether you’re observing Chuseok for the first time or returning home for annual festivities, this Korean harvest festival offers a unique glimpse into the country’s rich heritage. And if you’re traveling during this time, keep an eye on the Harvest Moon, as it lights up the sky and continues to inspire celebrations across cultures worldwide.

*This term is sometimes used to describe Chuseok, but can be misleading: Chuseok and Thanksgiving in the USA share the celebration of a successful harvest but differ in most other aspects.

** Of the 7051 holidays in the timeanddate.com holiday database, 417 fall on a Full Moon in 2024. For this purpose, we define a Full Moon as having an illumination of 98% or greater. More on our research here.