ALL ABOUT VIETNAM'S MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL
Mid-Autumn festival is pretty much a combination of Western’s Thanksgiving and Halloween. It is characterized by the sound of drums and the twinkle of lanterns under the clear and vast tropical sky of bright clear moonlight and cool breeze.
THE HISTORY OF MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL
The Moon Festival dates back thousands of years ago, and held on the 15th day of the 8th Lunar Month. This festival is celebrated in many Asian nations that once used the lunar calendar such as Vietnam and China and it is considered the Children's Festival.
Back in the Rice Civilization days, the Mid-Autumn Festival came about as a way for parents to make up for lost time with their children after harvest season and also to celebrate the harvest. The festival was held under the full moon, represents fullness and prosperity of life.
THE CELEBRATION OF VIETNAM'S MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL
Children parade on the streets, while singing and carrying colorful lanterns of different sizes. Some of the popular shapes include fishes, stars, butterflies and Keo Quan - a lantern that spins when a candle is placed showing the soldiers on the horses riding to the battlefield. Dances are also traditional, and include the dragon dance and the flower dance
The autumn is also back to school time, so the relatives and parents, grand parents offer presents and wishes The PhD made of paper suggests good wishes for success to pupils.
THE FOOD
It is expected to give boxes of mooncakes (Banh Trung Thu) to family and special friends as wishing them Happiness, Lucks, Health and Wealth. The traditional moon cakes are made of meat, egg, dried fruit, pumpkin’s seed, peanut, lotus seeds, orange peel ground beans and can be sweet to very sweet.
THE OPPORTUNITIES
The Mid-Autumn celebration is an opportunity for family to gather the members and share good news. The young generation expresses their gratitude to the old generation. The parents show their love for their children.
MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL IN HANOI
The Ho Tay Water Park (614 Lac Long Quan Road).
Van Ho Exhibition Centre (2 Hoa Lu Street),
Giang Vo Exhibition Centre (148 Giang Vo Road) all have musical performances for children.
The Youth Theatre at 11 Ngo Thi Nham has variety shows for children.