Look up the sky, the moon's brightness can easily capture our attention. In many places around the world, people are celebrating for the full moon too. However, the customs are different among the countries.
- China -
中秋节
The Mid-Autumn Festival is an evening celebration when families gather together to light lanterns, eat moon cakes and appreciate the round moon.
The celebrations date back to more than 2,000 years ago. Now, it's still one of the most important festivities in China.
- Japan -
じゅうごや
Japanese celebrate the festival on August 15th of lunar calendar. When the festival was introduced into Japan from China about 1,000 years ago, the custom of appreciating the moon while holding a party formed, named appropriately “Moon Appreciation Party”.
Glutinous rice cake, the festival food in Japan
- South Korea -
추석
Mid-Autumn Festival is a big event in the country, also called “Thanksgiving Day” by local people. People there enjoy a three-day holiday when they go back to hometowns to visit families and relatives.
Another custom is sending gifts to relatives and friends. So during the festive days, sellers think out many ways to attract buyers, including giving discounts. The special food for this festival is muffins.
- Singapore -
Mid-Autumn Festival
To Singaporeans, Mid-Autumn Festival is a good time to make friendly contacts, express thanks, and give best wishes to relatives, friends, and business partners by sending mooncakes.
Photo∣Laochengchang
As the country is a famous tourist destination, local people never miss the chance to attract tourists. They decorate Orchard Road, river banks, Chinatown, Chinese Garden and other places to welcome worldwide tourists.
Mid-Autumn Festival in Singapore 2016
Photo∣Gardens by the Bay
- Thailand -
วันไหว้พระจันทร์
According to Thai legend, on the night of the Festival, the Eight Immortals go to the Moon Palace to send peach-shaped cakes and birthday greetings to Guanyin (a Bodhisattva). Some of the Thailanders will light up the lantern, carrying their wishes to the sky.
- Philippines -
Mid-Autumn Mooncake Festival
During the festival, Chinese towns and Chinese colonies all over the country are decorated with lanterns and colorful banners, especially the China town in Manila.
Photo∣ flickr.com
Various home-made and imported mooncakes are sold in lots of shops. Activities like dragon dance parade, traditional Chinese clothing parade, lantern parade, and fancy car parade are held.
- Vietnam -
Têt-Trung-Thu
The day in Vietnam is also called Children's Festival. As the day approaches, markets are full of lanterns and toys in spite of mooncakes. When adults eat moon cakes and appreciate the moon on that night, children usually play around with their beautiful lanterns.
Photo∣giadinhvietnam.com
During the days, people there also hold Mid-Autumn Festival competitions to see who can make the most beautiful lantern. Lion dance performances are held in some places to enhance the celebration.
Photo∣ tinmoi.vn
Want to celebrate a special "Moon" Day?
Wherever you are,
join the full moon,
enjoy JOMOO!
