Charye is the ancestral rite performed by many Korean families at home during Chuseok.
During Charye, families prepare a ceremonial table with foods such as rice, fruit, meat, fish, and rice wine. The arrangement and specific dishes can vary by region, household, and family tradition, so there is no single universal menu.
The rite is a form of jesa, the broader Korean tradition of memorial ceremonies for ancestors. Charye is specifically associated with major holidays, including Chuseok and Seollal, whereas other jesa ceremonies may mark death anniversaries or other family occasions.
Charye is often followed by a shared family meal. It is distinct from seongmyo, the practice of visiting ancestral graves, although families may observe both during the same holiday period.