FULL MOON FESTIVAL IN VIETNAM

Introduction

• one of the most significant and widely celebrated festivals in Vietnam

• Vietnamese pay their respects to the Earth God and remember their ancestors
with o:erings.

Names

• Full Moon Festival

• Moon Festival
• Mooncake Festival
• Mid-Autumn Festival
• “Tết Trung Thu” in Vietnamese

Time

• 15th day of the 8th lunar month,

• which usually lands in late September or early October.
• Since it follows the lunar calendar, the exact date changes every year.

Venue

• In cities and countryside alike.

• celebrations happening everywhere from streets and parks to community
centers, plus people's homes and temples.

Activities

• Ancestor worship

In Vietnam, paying respect to ancestors is a big part of the culture and happens all year
round during various festivals. People make o:erings like food, incense, and flowers to
honor those who've passed away and to feel like they're still part of the family
celebrations. This tradition is all about showing respect and maintain connection
between the living and their ancestors.
 • Mooncake Making and Sharing

Mooncakes are the star of the show or signature during the Full Moon Festival, and
everyone shares them with family and friends. A lot of families even make mooncakes
together—it's a great way to spend some quality time and get ready for giving them as
gifts, too.

• Lantern Parades

Children get in on the action during the Full Moon Festival by joining in lantern parades.
They carry lanterns, which they often make themselves, through the streets. These
lanterns can be super simple or really fancy, but they're always bright and colorful.

• Lion and Dragon Dances

Performers dressed up in lion or dragon costumes through the streets, dancing their
way into homes and businesses to bring good luck and fortune. These performances are
full of energy and are a major highlight everyone looks forward to.

• Folk Games and Crafts

Kids really get into playing traditional games like "bầu cua cá cọp," where they bet on
symbols like a gourd, crab, shrimp, fish, rooster, and deer. They also love getting crafty
with activities like painting masks and making their own lanterns.

Purpose

• Family Gatherings

The festival is a big family reunion time. People take the chance to come back yo their
families and spend time with their loved ones.

• Celebrating Children

The festival is also called the Children’s Festival. Families go all out, buying lanterns,
masks, and toys for the kids. There are special performances and games just for them,
too. It's all about celebrating the kids' innocence and dreams, and it's a way to
encourage them to do well in school and grow up to be responsible adults.
 • Cultural and Folkloric Traditions

The festival is packed with folklore, featuring tons of stories and legends like the tale of
the Moon Lady (Chang'e) and the Jade Rabbit. Celebrating the Full Moon Festival is a
great way to keep these stories and cultural traditions alive, passing them down to the
younger generations. It helps maintain a strong sense of identity and continuity.

• Worshipping the Moon

This tradition comes from the old belief that the moon plays a crucial role in farming—it
helps by providing light and influencing how crops grow. People thank the moon for its
light and beauty by making o:erings on the night it shines the brightest and fullest.