The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, is one of the most significant holidays in China and Vietnam, celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. This festival, which typically falls in September or early October, is a time for family reunions, moon-gazing, and enjoying delicious mooncakes. While both China and Vietnam share the tradition of celebrating this festival, each country has unique customs and cultural elements that make it distinct.
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The Mid-Autumn Festival has its roots in ancient agrarian societies that worshipped the moon and celebrated the harvest. In both China and Vietnam, the festival is intertwined with legends that give the celebration its rich cultural significance.
Chinese Legend: Chang’e and the Moon
In China, one of the most popular legends associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival is the story of Chang’e, the Moon Goddess. According to the legend, Hou Yi, a famous archer, was given an elixir of immortality as a reward for shooting down nine of the ten suns that were scorching the earth. However, Hou Yi gave the elixir to his wife, Chang’e, for safekeeping. One day, a villain named Peng Meng tried to steal the elixir, and to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands, Chang’e drank it herself and ascended to the moon, where she became a goddess. Heartbroken, Hou Yi would lay out offerings of food and gaze at the moon in remembrance of his wife. This legend has led to the tradition of moon-gazing during the festival.
Vietnamese Legend: Cuội and the Banyan Tree
In Vietnam, the Mid-Autumn Festival, or Tết Trung Thu, is associated with the legend of Cuội. Cuội was a woodcutter who found a magical banyan tree that had the power to heal the sick. However, when Cuội's wife accidentally watered the tree with dirty water, it began to uproot and float toward the moon. Cuội tried to pull it back, but he was lifted into the sky and stranded on the moon with the tree. To this day, Vietnamese people say that if you look at the moon on Mid-Autumn night, you can see Cuội sitting under the banyan tree. This tale is central to Vietnamese celebrations, where children often parade with lanterns shaped like the moon and stars.
Traditional Celebrations in China
In China, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunions and honoring the moon. The full moon is seen as a symbol of unity and harmony, and families gather to appreciate the beauty of the moon together.
Mooncakes
One of the most iconic aspects of the festival is the mooncake, a round pastry traditionally filled with lotus seed paste or red bean paste, and sometimes with a salted egg yolk to represent the full moon. Mooncakes are often elaborately decorated with Chinese characters symbolizing longevity and harmony. Today, there are many modern variations of mooncakes, including ones with ice cream or fruit fillings. Sharing mooncakes with family and friends is a gesture of good luck and unity.
Moon-Gazing and Lanterns
On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, families often gather outdoors to admire the full moon, which is said to be at its brightest and fullest. In some regions of China, people light lanterns and release them into the sky or float them on rivers, creating a magical and serene atmosphere.
Dragon and Lion Dances
In southern China, especially in Guangdong and Fujian provinces, dragon and lion dances are performed during the Mid-Autumn Festival. These dances, which are typically associated with Chinese New Year, are meant to ward off evil spirits and bring good fortune.
Traditional Celebrations in Vietnam
The Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam, or Tết Trung Thu, has a strong focus on children. It is considered a children’s festival, and many of the activities are geared towards the younger generation.
Lantern Processions
One of the most vibrant aspects of the Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival is the lantern processions. Children carry colorful lanterns shaped like stars, animals, and other figures as they walk through the streets at night. The star-shaped lantern is particularly iconic, symbolizing the brightness and happiness of the festival.
Mooncakes and Other Treats
Like in China, mooncakes are an essential part of the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam. However, Vietnamese mooncakes, known as bánh trung thu, often have a lighter texture and can be either baked or sticky (similar to mochi). In addition to traditional fillings like lotus seed paste and salted egg yolk, Vietnamese mooncakes can also include tropical fruits, mung bean, and even savory meats. Alongside mooncakes, children enjoy bánh dẻo (sticky rice cakes) and fruits like pomelo, which is considered a lucky fruit during the festival.
Lion Dances
In Vietnam, lion dances are a common sight during the festival, especially in urban areas. Groups of performers, often children or young adults, dress in colorful lion costumes and dance to the beat of drums as they parade through the streets. These performances are meant to bring good luck and drive away evil spirits.
Symbolism and Meaning
The Mid-Autumn Festival is deeply symbolic, with the moon representing unity, completeness, and the cyclical nature of life. The round shape of the mooncake further symbolizes reunion and harmony, making it a fitting food for family gatherings.
For children, the festival is a time of joy and celebration. In both China and Vietnam, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a time when children are showered with love and gifts, and parents take this opportunity to spend quality time with them.
Modern Celebrations and Evolution
In both China and Vietnam, the Mid-Autumn Festival has evolved with modern times. While traditional customs like mooncake-making, lantern-lighting, and moon-gazing are still widely observed, new trends have emerged. For example, in urban areas, elaborate mooncake gift boxes have become popular, often given as business gifts or exchanged between friends.
Social media has also become a platform for people to share their festival experiences, with many posting photos of the moon, their mooncakes, and lanterns. In recent years, environmentally conscious individuals and organizations have started advocating for sustainable celebrations, encouraging people to use reusable or eco-friendly materials for lanterns and decorations.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a celebration that bridges the past and present, bringing families together to honor traditions while adapting to modern life. Whether you're enjoying a mooncake under the full moon in China or watching children parade with lanterns in Vietnam, the festival is a reminder of the importance of unity, gratitude, and joy. Despite the differences in customs between the two countries, the essence of the festival remains the same: it is a time to celebrate life, family, and the beauty of the moon.