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The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunions, enjoying mooncakes, and engaging in traditional cultural activities. So when exactly does this festival occur? Let’s delve into the details with Kamereo in the following article!
The Mid-Autumn Festival occurs annually on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. Today is Monday, August 06, 2024 (Gregorian calendar) – July 03 (Lunar calendar). Therefore, there are 41 days left until the Mid-Autumn Festival 2024.
When is the Mid-Autumn Festival? How many days until the Mid-Autumn Festival 2024?
The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Children’s Festival, is one of the significant holidays in the culture of many Asian countries, including Vietnam. It’s a time when families gather, children enjoy mooncakes, carry star lanterns, and participate in lantern parades.
The Mid-Autumn Festival occurs on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month every year, which is when the moon is at its fullest and brightest. This is also when children excitedly carry their lanterns around and receive sweets from homes they visit.
The Mid-Autumn Festival in 2024 will fall on Tuesday, September 17th (Gregorian calendar), corresponding to August 15th (lunar calendar).
Origins of the Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Reunion Festival, is an important traditional holiday in Vietnam, occurring on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month each year. The festival originates from two main legends:
Chinese Legend of Chang’e and Wu Gang: The festival is thought to originate from the Chinese legend of Chang’e, who ascended to the moon where she became a moon goddess, and Wu Gang who chops the everlasting tree. People gaze at the moon imagining the silhouette of Wu Gang under the cassia tree. This festival was later introduced to Vietnam and became a part of folklore.
Vietnamese Harvest Celebration: Another theory suggests that the festival originated from a Vietnamese ritual thanking the deities after the rice harvest season. The festival is not only a celebration but also a ritual wishing for a fruitful upcoming harvest.
Additionally, there are other theories about the origins of the Mid-Autumn Festival:
- Legend of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang: According to another legend, the Mid-Autumn Festival also originates from a story where Emperor Xuanzong of Tang ascended to the moon palace and met the fairy Chang’e, bringing the custom back to the mortal world.
Regardless of the varying origins, the festival plays a crucial role in bringing families together to celebrate, enjoy mooncakes, and participate in other traditional cultural activities.
Significance of the Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Reunion Festival or Children’s Festival, marks one of the most anticipated traditional celebrations in Vietnam, occurring on the full moon day of the 8th lunar month each year. This day carries special and profound meanings:
- Family Reunion: The Mid-Autumn Festival is an occasion for family members to gather, spend time together, share joys and stories of the past year, and strengthen family bonds.
- Ancestral Remembrance: It is traditional for Vietnamese to perform rites on this day, expressing gratitude and respect for the ancestors.
- Prayers for Prosperity: The festival is also a time when people pray for peace, prosperity, and happiness in the coming year, hoping for a joyful and prosperous life.
- Community Bonding: Activities such as lantern parades, lion dances, and other entertainments not only entertain children but also adults, enhancing unity and bonding within the community.
- Cultural Preservation: The Mid-Autumn Festival helps preserve and promote the traditional cultural values of Vietnam, educating the younger generation about the importance of maintaining and continuing good cultural practices.
Additionally, this day also serves as an opportunity for adults to show care for children through gift-giving and organizing games, emphasizing the importance of nurturing and providing joyful and memorable moments for children during the festival.
Distinctive Traditions of the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam
The Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam often involves various customs that occur in many localities, below are some of the most widely practiced traditions:
Lantern Procession
This custom is primarily for children, who carry variously shaped lanterns such as star lanterns, fish lanterns, and rabbit lanterns through villages, singing Mid-Autumn Festival songs and admiring the moon.
Enjoying Moon-viewing Feasts
Families gather together, preparing a feast with fruits, candies, and traditional dishes, sharing stories and enjoying the warm atmosphere under the moonlight.
Lion Dance:
The lion dance is an indispensable activity during the Mid-Autumn Festival, symbolizing good luck and prosperity. Lion dance troupes perform in the streets, bringing joy and a lively atmosphere to the viewers.
Singing and Drumming:
This folk art form is commonly performed by children during the Mid-Autumn Festival. They sing, play drums, and participate in the lively festival atmosphere.
Eating Mooncakes:
Mooncakes are the symbol of the Mid-Autumn Festival, with various fillings such as mung beans, mixed fillings, and salted egg yolk. Mooncakes are not only food but also meaningful gifts for friends and relatives.
These customs not only enrich Vietnamese culture but also promote bonding among family members and the community. The Mid-Autumn Festival also serves as an opportunity to preserve and enhance the national cultural identity, transmitting good values to the younger generation.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival
On special occasions, especially those involving rituals, there are certain taboos to avoid to prevent misfortune throughout the year. Below are some common taboos during this period according to folk beliefs:
- Avoid wearing dark-colored clothes: Dark colors such as black or gray are often associated with bad luck, so people usually wear bright colors like red or yellow to bring good luck and joy.
- Refrain from swearing or using foul language: The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunion and joy, so maintaining friendly and polite speech is important to create a harmonious atmosphere and avoid bringing bad luck.
- Do not cover the forehead with hair: In Vietnamese culture, the forehead is considered a significant place containing wisdom and luck, so covering it, especially for children, is seen as unfavorable.
- The weak should avoid going out: The 15th night of the eighth lunar month is believed to have strong negative energy, so those with poor health are advised to stay indoors to avoid adverse health effects.
- Avoid pointing at the moon: In East Asian culture, the moon is revered, so pointing at the moon may be seen as disrespectful and unlucky.
- Avoid looking in mirrors at midnight: According to folk belief, midnight is the time when negative energy is strongest, and looking in a mirror could attract bad luck or reveal undesirable visions.
- Avoid quarrels or disputes: The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for harmony and love, so arguments or disputes on this day could bring misfortune to the family.
- Do not travel far or go on trips: The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family gatherings; additionally, folklore suggests that this day has heavy negative energy, so traveling far is not considered favorable.
These taboos reflect traditional beliefs about maintaining harmony and luck in the family, as well as avoiding actions that might bring bad luck during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is an incredibly important cultural identity in Vietnam, a time for families to bond and strengthen their relationships. We hope this article has helped you understand more about this festival. Additionally, keep following Kamereo’s useful tips section to read more interesting articles!
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