In solidarity with our Korean students, parents, and guardians, MIT International School held a simple celebration of an important Korean festival. Chuseok (추석), also known as hangawi (한가위) is a major festival celebrated by Koreans every 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar, which coincides with the autumnal equinox.
Every Chuseok, members of the family gather, pay respect to the spirits of their ancestors, and share traditional Korean food. For this reason, a three-day holiday is held all throughout Korea every mid-autumn to give its citizens opportunity to visit their ancestral towns and celebrate the Korean “Thanksgiving Day”.
During the school event, Seungho Lee wowed the crowd with his taekwondo moves. He might be too young as a fifth grader but he already sports a black belt in the said martial arts.
Aside from family gathering, folk games are also held in Chuseok festivals like wrestling for men called ssireum. In lieu of the traditional ssireum, MITIS students participated in an arm wrestling competition for girls and boys.
After a number of arm wrestling rounds, Gyuri Kim (Grade 9) as the champion for the female category while Joel Andrei Ramirez (Grade 10) and Jisoo Jung (Grade 12) won the male under 65kg and over 65kg divisions, respectively. The cash prizes were handed out by the school’s Languages Department Coordinator, Ms. Johanna Manuel.
The celebration ended with a community food sharing where parents and guardians brought traditional Korean delicacies for the students and teachers.
School Principal, Ms. Mae Kathryn C. Malanum, school officials, parents and guardians graced the event, as well.
