Language/Vietnamese/Culture/Mid-Autumn-Festival
Հայերէն
Български език
官话
官話
Hrvatski jezik
Český jazyk
Nederlands
English
Suomen kieli
Français
Deutsch
עברית
हिन्दी
Magyar
Bahasa Indonesia
فارسی
Italiano
日本語
Қазақ тілі
한국어
Lietuvių kalba
Νέα Ελληνικά
Şimali Azərbaycanlılar
Język polski
Português
Limba Română
Русский язык
Српски
Español
العربية القياسية
Svenska
Wikang Tagalog
தமிழ்
ภาษาไทย
Türkçe
Українська мова
Urdu
The Mid-Autumn Festival, or Tết Trung Thu in Vietnamese, is a popular harvest festival that is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. This festival has a long history and is well-known for its colorful lanterns, delicious mooncakes, and traditional lion dance performances. In this lesson, we will explore the customs and traditions associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival in Vietnam.
Origins and Significance
The Mid-Autumn Festival has its roots in Chinese mythology and was brought to Vietnam by Chinese immigrants during the Tang Dynasty (7th - 10th century). In Vietnam, the festival has taken on unique characteristics and has become an important cultural event. The festival celebrates the end of the autumn harvest and is a time to give thanks to the gods for a successful harvest. It is also a time for families to gather together and share food and gifts.
Customs and Traditions
Mooncakes
One of the most iconic symbols of the Mid-Autumn Festival is the mooncake. These round pastries are filled with lotus seed paste or other sweet fillings and often contain a salted duck egg yolk in the center, symbolizing the moon. Mooncakes are a traditional gift exchanged between friends and family during the festival and are often beautifully packaged and adorned with auspicious symbols.
Lanterns
Another highlight of the Mid-Autumn Festival is the colorful lanterns that adorn the streets and homes throughout Vietnam. These lanterns come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are often made of brightly colored paper, silk, or plastic. Traditional lanterns are often in the shape of animals or fruits, but modern lanterns can be more elaborate, featuring popular cartoon characters or other designs.
Lion Dance
The lion dance is a popular traditional performance that is often associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival. During the dance, performers wearing colorful lion costumes and masks dance to the beat of drums and cymbals, mimicking the movements of a lion. The lion dance is believed to bring good luck and fortune and is often performed in front of homes, businesses, and temples during the festival.
Children's Activities
The Mid-Autumn Festival is also a time for children to have fun and enjoy some special treats. Children often carry colorful lanterns and parade through the streets, singing traditional songs and reciting poems. There are also traditional games and activities associated with the festival, such as the game of ô ăn quan, a traditional Vietnamese board game played with small stones.
Vocabulary
Here are some words and phrases related to the Mid-Autumn Festival:
| Vietnamese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Tết Trung Thu | tet troong thoo | Mid-Autumn Festival |
| đèn lồng | den long | lantern |
| bánh trung thu | ban troong thoo | mooncake |
| lân | laan | lion |
| vật phẩm may mắn | vat pham my man | lucky charm |
Conclusion
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a beloved cultural event in Vietnam that celebrates family, community, and the harvest season. By learning about the customs and traditions associated with this important festival, learners of Vietnamese can gain a deeper understanding of Vietnamese culture and history.
Sources