Everything you Need to Know about Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam

Mid-Autumn Festival is a very special holiday in Vietnam, also known as Children's Day, held on August 15 of the lunar calendar every year. Let's join JRE, one of Saigon’s top property agents, to see what's special about the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam.

1. Worshiping the Moon

On the night of the 15th of August of the lunar calendar every year, when the full moon shines, the moon sacrifice ceremony begins. On the altar, there are fruits and moon cakes, also known as "togetherness" cakes, because, on this occasion, the whole family has the opportunity to reunite to eat cakes and enjoy the clear autumn moonlight and gourd the warm air.

2. Reunite with family and Appreciating the Moon together

On the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, every year is the day when the moon is brightest in the year, so after the moon worshiping and ancestors in the house, everyone often appreciating the moon together. Besides, for those who are busy with work, this is a good opportunity to spend time with those you love. Family members gather to chat together, around loud laughter, share delicious moon cakes, temporarily forget the chaos in life.

3. Making colorful lanterns together

Besides moon cakes, the lanterns are one of the special symbols on Mid-Autumn night. A lantern is a gift that adults often give to children whenever they come to this event. The lanterns have different designs, which are stars, carp, butterfly, monk, rabbit, military scissors, so on. Most of them are handmade by bamboo, wind paper, adorned with vivid drawings. Or there is also a variety of batteries made of battery-operated plastic suitable for modern life. In the south of Vietnam, the two cities of Hoi An and Saigon are well-known throughout the country for their handicrafts for making decorative lanterns and paper lamps for Mid-Autumn Festival.

4. Parading with lanterns

Mid-Autumn Festival will not be without the image of colorful lanterns shining under the golden moonlight. Traditionally, children will gather in crowds, holding colorful lights in their hands, going around every corner of the street. Then together, singing songs in the song "Processed with lights in August". Many children happily shared this as a way to welcome The Moon Lady and The Moon Boy from the moon to play.

5. Watching the Lion dance

Vietnamese people hold a lion dance in the Mid-Autumn Festival because the Lion symbolizes good luck. So the mid-autumn lion dance is a wish for good luck for every family. People often organize lion dance together with the parading with lanterns festival to create a vibrant, bustling atmosphere to bring joy to children.

6. The custom of giving gifts

Mid-Autumn Festival people often give gifts to each other. Gifts are usually boxes of moon cakes, lanterns, lucky money, etc. The object of giving gifts for adults is usually superiors such as parents, superiors, people who need help, teachers, or even neighbors, friends, or children in the house. Usually, the more important the recipient of the gift is, the higher the value of the gift should be. In addition, the gift-giving should also accompany with good wishes to express the gift of the giver's heart.