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Mid-Autumn Festival Around the World

The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most cherished traditional celebrations across Asia, symbolizing reunion, gratitude, and joy. While its origin remains shrouded in legend, the festival has evolved uniquely in each country, reflecting the culture and spirit of its people. Let’s explore how different nations around the world celebrate this festival of the full moon.

In Vietnam, the Mid-Autumn Festival is both a children’s celebration and a family reunion. Its origins are unclear, though Vietnamese folklore tells stories of Emperor Tang Ming Huang, the Moon Goddess Chang’e, and the archer Hou Yi. As an agricultural nation, Vietnam has long honored the full moon as a time of harvest and togetherness. Traditionally, families gather under the bright moonlight to offer mooncakes, fruits, and a five-fruit tray representing the harmony of the five elements.

In the past, the festival featured two offerings: one for ancestors and one for moon gazing. The mooncakes, both baked and glutinous, symbolized the balance of heaven and earth. Fruits of various colors represented the natural elements and expressed gratitude for abundance. Today, the celebration has become more vibrant and diverse. Many communities host festive performances, lion dances, and lantern parades where children joyfully follow the tales of the Moon Lady and the Man in the Moon.

In China, the Mid-Autumn Festival ranks second only to Lunar New Year in importance. The celebration dates back thousands of years, when ancient farmers observed how the moon’s cycles influenced their harvest. Families gather to give thanks to heaven and earth and to honor their ancestors. The traditional round mooncakes symbolize harmony and reunion. Streets and homes glow with lanterns, and families enjoy moon-viewing while sharing tea and sweets. In some regions, people release lanterns into rivers or the night sky, sending their wishes for happiness and good fortune into the universe.

Japan celebrates the festival twice a year, marking both the full and the waning moon. The first celebration, known as Zyuyoga, corresponds to the moon-viewing tradition called Otsukimi and takes place on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month. The second, Zyusanya, occurs in September or October. Although not a public holiday, it remains a moment for quiet reflection. Families gather to admire the moon, drink sake, and enjoy Tsukimi Dango—rice dumplings arranged in a pyramid beside pampas grass and seasonal fruits. The Japanese believe that a rabbit lives on the moon, so moon-viewing treats often take the shape of rabbits or round dumplings symbolizing the moon itself. Streets are often decorated with colorful carp-shaped lanterns, a symbol of courage and perseverance, especially for young boys.

In South Korea, the Mid-Autumn Festival is known as Chuseok and is among the country’s most important holidays. It lasts for at least three days, during which people return to their hometowns to celebrate the harvest and honor their ancestors. Families prepare special dishes such as songpyeon—half-moon-shaped rice cakes—and enjoy traditional rice wines like sindoju and dongdongju. Festivities vary across regions, but one custom unites everyone: the Ganggangsullae dance. Under the full moon, people join hands to form large circles, singing and dancing together in a joyful expression of gratitude and community.

Though celebrated differently across nations, the Mid-Autumn Festival carries a shared meaning of reunion and appreciation for life’s blessings. Whether it is through mooncakes, lanterns, or music, this timeless tradition continues to connect families, preserve cultural heritage, and bring warmth to moonlit nights across Asia.