Chuseok (추석), also known as Hangawi- Korea's major harvest festival is on Sunday, September 30 (by lunar calender: August 15) ~!
But in Korea, Chuseok starts 3 days in advance in order for people to visit their ancestral hometowns in different states. Since this is the fall festival, all family members get together to share major dish- Songpyeon (송편) and rice wines. I want to share with you all about Songpyeon!
Songpyeon is a type of tteok (떡)- rice cake, Koreans usually eat during the fall harvest festival.
Traditionally, songpyeon has half-moon shape and is filled with sesame seeds and honey, sweet red bean paste, or chestnut paste.
My grandma used to tell me and my relatives to make pretty songpyeon. Depending on how pretty you make songpyeon, you will have good-looking or not-so-good-looking children you would have. Beleive it or not. :)
Sonpyeon in the above picture and in the past was not great looking. But now as Food developers in Korea diversified songpyeon into various shapes and colors! Health concious Koreans use natural coloring from food, such as yellow color from pumpkin, green color from wormwood, pink color from strawberry, purple color from blueberry.
Some say that putting songpyeon in bamboo containers will keep songpyeon moist.
Even though shapes and colors change, the memories with family eating songpyeon will never fade away.
If you want to make songpyeon, please join Korean class on this Saturday, September 29. Send me a message~!
Thank you.
KoreanClasswithJennifer
