Korean Traditional Game : Chuseok Dalmajinol-i

🍂 Korean Traditional Game Series 29

Chuseok Dalmajinol-i

(추석 달맞이놀이 · Korean Harvest Moon Festival Game)

🕰️ 1. Introduction

Chuseok Dalmajinol-i (추석 달맞이놀이), meaning “moon-viewing play during Chuseok,” is one of Korea’s most cherished traditional customs.
It takes place on the night of Chuseok — the Korean Harvest Moon Festival — when families and villagers gather under the bright full moon to express gratitude for the year’s harvest and to make wishes for the future.

In Korean culture, the full moon symbolizes abundance, fulfillment, and unity.
During Dalmajinol-i, people not only admire the moon but also sing, dance, and play traditional games in its gentle light, celebrating harmony between people and nature.

🪄 2. How to Celebrate

• At sunset, families and villagers climb hills, fields, or village courtyards with offerings such as newly harvested rice, fruits, and rice cakes (songpyeon).
• As the moon rises, everyone bows toward it and makes wishes — for good health, love, and prosperity.
• Children run and laugh while elders share folk tales about the moon rabbit making rice cakes.
• Villagers often play ganggangsullae (circle dance), sing folk songs, and enjoy the night air together.
• In some regions, people exchange food and lanterns, symbolizing light shared among neighbors.

👀 3. Example from Life

On a crisp autumn evening, the golden moon rises over the mountains as laughter echoes through the village.
Women in colorful hanbok hold hands in a circle, singing softly while children chase their shadows on the ground.
Elders sip tea, gazing at the bright sky, whispering blessings for peace and happiness.

Chuseok Dalmajinol-i was not just a ritual — it was a heartfelt celebration of gratitude, love, and connection beneath the same moon.

🌏 4. Similar Traditions Around the World

• China: Mid-Autumn Festival, where families reunite and eat mooncakes under the full moon.
• Japan: Tsukimi, a moon-viewing celebration honoring autumn’s beauty.
• Western countries: Harvest festivals and moonlight gatherings that celebrate gratitude and nature.

✨ Chuseok Dalmajinol-i reminds us that no matter where we are, the same moon shines upon us all — connecting hearts through shared light and hope.

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💌 Closing Words

Chuseok Dalmajinol-i is more than a festive tradition.
It embodies Korea’s spirit of gratitude and harmony — giving thanks for the past and wishing blessings for the days ahead.
Through this moonlit celebration, generations have learned to honor the earth, the harvest, and one another.

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📌 Note
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