What is Mid-Autumn Festival? Everything to know about the occasion (2025)

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What do you know about Mid-Autumn Festival? ›

Also called the Full Moon Festival, Mid Autumn Festival in Vietnam is an important cultural event for the locals. The festival takes place on the Full Moon night (the 15th day) of the 8th lunar month. At this time, it is believed that the moon shines the brightest during the whole year.

The day of the Mid-autumn Festival is traditionally thought to be auspicious for weddings, as the moon goddess is believed to extend conjugal bliss to couples. The festival started more than 2,000 years ago as a post-autumn harvest celebration, which was devoted to thanking the gods.

As the legend goes, Hou Yi was rewarded with an elixir of immortality after shooting down nine out of the ten suns that ravaged the land with drought and disaster. However, when Hou Yi's apprentice, Feng Meng, attempted to steal the elixir, Chang'e stopped him by drinking the elixir herself.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is a traditional celebration observed in many East Asian cultures, particularly in China and Vietnam. It occurs on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, typically in September or October, when the moon is believed to be at its fullest and brightest.

In China, the Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, is both a moment to reconnect across the ages and a vibrant cultural gathering. China and Việt Nam, though separated by mountains and rivers, share the same moon and wind.

A typical table for the Mid-Autumn Festival highlights the local harvest. In China, foods such as pear, lotus root, squash, taro, mushroom, and crab are traditionally included because they are in season there. The classic dishes found in any Chinese feast also make an appearance: whole fish, duck, and pork belly.

It's time to hang a lantern, share a mooncake and peel a pomelo – Mid-Autumn Festival is here.Falling on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, it's celebrated primarily in East and Southeast Asia and is a time for families to gather to sample autumn harvests, light lanterns and admire what's believed to be the ...

“It is believed that the moon is at its largest and roundest during this festival. The full moon symbolises prosperity, happiness, and family unity,” he said.

The Jade Rabbit became a symbol of worship and of the moon after people in ancient China noticed a rabbit-like impression formed by the craters and shadows on the lunar surface. Ever since, art has played an important role in passing on the legend of the Jade Rabbit.

The Moon Festival legend about Hou Yi and Chang E is always told to children at this time. Once upon a time, there were ten suns in the sky, scorching many crops and people to death. The Emperor of Heaven summoned Hou Yi to shoot down nine of the suns. Hou Yi succeeded, the weather soon recovered and life was saved.

What is the Mid-Autumn Festival for kids in Vietnam? ›

Mid-Autumn Festival is much more like the Children's Day, bringing them so much joy. Tet Trung Thu is a festival mainly for the children, with the purpose of bringing joy to the kids through traditional customs and activities such as folk dancing, singing, or playing games.

The most famous Vietnamese story is about a man named Cuoi, a man who was taken to the moon by a magical banyan tree. According to the legend, Cuội lives on the moon and looks down upon the Earth during the festival. Children often sing songs about Cuoi and the moon, adding a whimsical touch to the festivities.

Typically, mooncakes are made with a sweet baked dough on the outside and filled with either red bean or lotus seed paste and salted duck yolks to represent the full moon. This version is made with just red bean paste, but feel free to get creative and use your favorite nut or seed paste.

The round cakes are gifted and shared with family, friends and business acquaintances to symbolize reunion each year on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. Today, mooncakes are made throughout China, although, as with much Chinese cuisine, regional variations abound.