Mid-Autumn Festival is a reunion festival, a traditional culture of Vietnamese people because it gives us its origin and interesting meaning. But maybe not all of us know the mystery and customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival, we only know on this day the moon is brightest, fullest and people gather around the tray. So let's go back in the time, return to the folk, and together explain this meaningful mid-autumn festival customs.

What is the meaning of Mid autumn festival ?
For thousands of years, every occasion on the autumn, people eagerly welcome the Mid-Autumn Festival on August 15 of the lunar calendar. In the bright moonlight, people gether and make the conversation and wish for a lifetime of peace. But not everyone knows the origin and meaning of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Many people say that Vietnam's Mid-Autumn Festival originated from China but in fact when going into anecdotes, Vietnamese and Chinese people have different origins of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
If the mid-autumn festival of Chinese people refers to the love story of Hang Nga and Hau Nghe, in Vietnam, they talk about the story of “Chú Cuội” and “Chị Hằng” .

Hang Nga and Hau Nghe

Photo from internet

“Chú Cuội” and “Chị Hằng”

Or from the story of Chinese history in the Tang Dynasty, the origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival associated with Duong Quy Phi. She was one of the four great beauties who made the anecdote of China at that time. It is also because of the beauty of tilting the water that the court thinks that she fascinates the Emperor Duong Huyen Tong.

In Vietnam, many documents record that the Mid-Autumn Festival was held under the Ly Dynasty in Thang Long Citadel. An occasion when King Ly wanted to thank the Dragon god for bringing rain to a bumper crop, for the people to be full.

* Mid autumn festival customs to keep playing lanterns:
The mid-autumn festival is indispensable with the image of colorful lanterns shining brightly under the golden moonlight. For Chinese people, lanterns are hung at the door and symbolize good luck for peace.

Mid-autumn lanterns in China -internet photo

The flower lantern is released at night, they float along the river to pray far.

As for Vietnamese people, mid-autumn lanterns are made for children to play in the mid-autumn festival. The lights with countless shapes from the chicken, fish, bears,star ... are extremely beautiful bright on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Mid-autumn lantern with countless different shapes

* Mid autumn festival customs to watch the moon:

During the Mid-Autumn Festival, most Chinese people will go to the streets to admire the beauty of the full moon. The time when the moon rises extremely sacred for many people, the moonlight is a sign of the reunion of family members together.

Internet photo

In Vietnam, the moon has a great meaning of a country with the rice culture. The full moon day of August is the time when the sky and sky are the most beautiful, the climate is cool, the moonlight shining brightly illuminating each night scene. This is also the time when the most leisurely, people can then enjoy watching the moon and immerse themselves in the sky.

After gathering together to enjoy meal and moon cake, the families will gather on the balcony or find a high place to watch the full moon. Under the bright moonlight, the parents often told the anecdote that “Chú Cuội” for his children.

* Mid autumn festival customs enjoy their meal:
On every Mid-Autumn Festival, every Vietnamese family prepared full of moon cakes, candies, sugarcane, grapefruit, watermelon ... depending on each family, the way of decoration is different.

When the moonlight reaches the top of the head is the time when everyone enjoy the taste of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The moon tray is for moon and sacrifices to the earth and to pray for a good life, good harvest and family reunion.

* Mid autumn festival customs on Lan dance : 

In the mid-autumn festival, the streets bustle with drums and Unicorn dance. The Chinese danced at the same time for the Lunar New Year and the Vietnamese performed the Unicorn dance on the occasion of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Unicorn dance will usually be held on the night of the 14th and the 15th. The Unicorn dance team consists of a person wearing a lion head and leading the entire team to dance the dances of this animal to the beat of a drum. The Unicorn symbolizes auspicious signs so the Mid-Autumn night's Unicorn dance is a wish for the good signs to come to every home.

* The custom of cutting moon cakes:
Moon cakes taste indispensable for the mid-autumn festival

It seems that moon cake has become a kind of cake indispensable for every family. Made from lotus seed flour and sugar powder, moon cakes symbolize family reunion and harmony.

Usually, moon cakes will be cut equal to the number of family members. The more regular the piece of cake, the happier the family will be in harmony.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is very meaningful tradition not only in Vietnam but also in other Asian countries. After explaining the customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival, everyone must know something about the origin and meaning of this festival.

Today is 3 Aug of Lunar year, just only 12 days, this festival is coming soon.
Hope every one can enjoy when travelling in Viet Nam, especially if someone in Ho Chi Minh City, don’t forget to visit the area of Luong Nhu Hoc, Tran Hung Dao– the famous streets of the mid-autumn festival in District 5.