How about banana, pizza for 'charye'?
Experts say sincerity most important, not food items
By Lee Kyung-min
Chuseok, one of the two major national holidays here alongside Lunar New Year, is when many Korean families hold “charye,” a traditional ancestral rite, in their homes.
People who buy food to put on the charye table may wonder whether it is proper to include items not traditionally used for the rite ― for example, bananas, pineapples, fried chicken or even pizza ― on their shopping list.
The answer is yes, according to an official from Sungkyunkwan, a national Confucian academy located next to but independent from Sungkyunkwan University in northeastern Seoul.
“The most important aspect of charye is to honor our ancestors during family gatherings held once or twice a year,” the official said.
While old books on organizing charye tables and selecting and preparing foods stipulate that some fruits should be put on the front of the table, there are no clauses banning any specific kinds of fruits.
“Let’s say grandparents liked bananas when they were alive. Then offering bananas is okay, because the intention is to consider what the honored person would have liked best,” he added.
However, choosing readymade charye foods simply to save time and energy is not recommended, he said.
“But if all family members can’t make time to cook because of work, then they have no other choice but to buy readymade food,” he said.
He added that arguing over whether any particular food item is proper or not to put on the table is not at all in the spirit of truly honoring the holiday and family bond.
“Why do we gather during holidays? It is to see and be grateful to each other and have a pleasant time,” he explained. “What should or should not be charye food is up for discussion, but that should never be a source of conflict among family members.”
The duty of cooking food must be shared by both men and women, he added.
“It is almost too boring to say that many women hate the holidays because of the work that they have to do before, during and after. Many older relatives say that men should stay out of the kitchen according to tradition, but this notion should be reconsidered and more men need to share responsibility in cooking, cleaning and other chores,“ he said.
Spending too much money for the sole purpose of showing off is never the right attitude, he added.
“Any social pressure attached to holding charye is not healthy. The once- or twice-a-year event should be joyful, not dreadful.”