Etymology

Today it means: The Korean Mid-Autumn Festival, held during the middle of the eighth month of the traditional East Asian luni-solar calendar (thus shifting each year on the Gregorian calendar, and not occurring in August); the most significant family holiday in Korea. The holiday coincides with the autumn harvest and symbolizes abundance and prosperity. As a gesture of gratitude, the first fruits of the harvest are offered to ancestors in appreciation for their protection and blessings throughout the year. Full definition →