Nov 30 2012
Mid-Autumn Festival: Tet Trung Thu
Tet Trung Thu is a wonderful, ancient festival of Vietnam that revolves around children. Vietnamese adopted this festival from China.
The Festival dates back as far as 15-20,000 years ago in Southeast Asia, and is traditionally held on the 15th day of the 8th Lunar Month. An important to families in Vietnam for many years, originally this Festival came about as a way for parents to make up for lost time with their children after harvest season.
The harvest was done by September, and the parents were anxious to spend time with their children and do something special with them, as well as celebrate the harvest, after spending much time working hard and away from the family. It was held under the full moon, which represents fullness and prosperity of life.
Celebration
Children parade on the streets, while singing and carrying colorful lanterns of different sizes. Some of the popular shapes include fishes, stars, butterflies and a lantern that spins when a candle is inserted, representing the earth circling the sun. Dances are also traditional, and include the dragon dance and the flower dance. It is customary to give Banh Trung Thu, boxes of moon cakes, which are traditionally very rich in taste. The cakes are filled with lotus seeds, ground beans and orange peels and have a bright yoke in the center to represent the moon.
Appropriately, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also called the Children’s Festival. To help children get ready for the Festival, parents can help children make their lanterns and costumes for the lantern procession and discuss the history and culture of Vietnam.
Wants to know more about the legend of Mid-Autumn Festival?
Watching the Legend of Mid-Autumn Festival.