Although it has many different names and forms, the common point of the Mid-Autumn Festival in Asian countries is family bonding and gratitude to ancestors and nature.
Vietnam
Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as Children’s Day, is an occasion for children across Vietnam to play, dance with lions, and carry lanterns. Children eagerly await moon cakes with many different fillings. This is also the time when families gather together, set up moon cakes and watch the full moon. Many places also organize lantern making competitions, creating a bustling and joyful atmosphere for this holiday.
China
China is the birthplace of the Mid-Autumn Festival, where this festival has a deep meaning of family reunion. Chinese people often hold reunion parties, watch the moon and enjoy moon cakes. Moon cakes here are famous for their mixed fillings and salted eggs, which are precious gifts on this occasion. On this day, Chinese people often hang lanterns in front of their houses and on the streets. On the full moon night, they release lanterns on the river and release sky lanterns containing wishes in the hope that their wishes will be sent to the blue sky to witness.
Singapore
Mid-Autumn Festival in Singapore is an occasion for families to gather and enjoy a variety of mooncakes such as green tea, pumpkin, durian and modern cakes such as Bloody Mary Snow Skin, Cranberry Cheese. Mooncakes here have distinct flavors and diverse colors. On the night of Mid-Autumn Festival, Singapore’s tourism symbol, the Merlion at Marina Bay, becomes sparkling with colorful lights. The streets are also decorated, creating a bustling, colorful atmosphere for the festival.
Japan
Mid-Autumn Festival in Japan, called Tsukimi, takes place on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month and is a unique moon-viewing festival. According to legend, there is a rabbit pounding mochi rice cakes on the moon, so Japanese people eat rabbit-shaped dango to pray for health and happiness. The stack of dango usually has 15 or 12 pieces to symbolize the 15th day of the month or 12 months of the year. The white color and roundness of the cake imitate the beauty of the moon. On this occasion, children, especially boys, often carry carp lanterns, a symbol of courage.
Korea
The Korean Mid-Autumn Festival, called Chuseok (Thanksgiving), is a time for people to return to their hometowns for reunions. Families prepare and enjoy traditional foods such as songpyeon – rice cakes filled with sesame, beans or chestnuts – and sindoju. Every Chuseok morning, Koreans perform a ritual of making charye tea to pay respect to their ancestors. The eldest son sets the table, and everyone bows according to gender and age to pray for good luck. The Korean Mid-Autumn Festival is also characterized by Talchum mask dances, Ganggangsullae dances, wrestling and visiting the graves of loved ones.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is not only a traditional holiday but also an occasion to honor family, culture and community values in Asian countries. Whether celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam, China, Singapore, Japan or Korea, each experience brings profound spiritual values and unforgettable memories. Through its rich and unique cultural features, the Mid-Autumn Festival continues to be a symbol of harmony and connection in modern society.
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