In the city of Portland, Oregon, the Vietnamese community had planned to celebrate “New Year’s Eve” at Ron Russell High School from 15:00 pm to 18:00 pm on September 10 (local time).
Participants did not need to pay any fee. The main language was Vietnamese to preserve cultural values, as well as to help the next generation learn about their roots. The program was organized with many activities for children such as lion dance, lantern procession, and moon cake making.
Similarly, on the full moon day of the 8th lunar month, the Vietnam Association of Science and Culture in cooperation with the Children’s Museum of Houston (Texas) held a mid-autumn festival with storytelling activities, lion dance, and many other engaging activities.
At the Children’s Discovery Museum in San Jose City (California), the Mid-Autumn Festival was held to help young children understand more about this custom of the Vietnamese people.
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| Photo: banhtrungthubrodard |
However, there are also some places in the states of Texas and Connecticut that celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival early, such as the Texas Asian Association holding the Mid-Autumn Festival on September 3 with activities such as paper cutting, lantern making, moon cakes baking, and Vietnamese fairy tales telling.
Participating in the preparations for the early Mid-Autumn Festival in West Hartford town, Connecticut on September 3, Mr. Jinn Hoang was busy for many days just hoping the children would be happy. Jinn Hoang told Connecticut Public Radio: “For me, the Mid-Autumn Festival is about eating well, having beautiful lanterns, walking around with friends and family, celebrating a peaceful Mid-Autumn Festival.”
Meanwhile, Michelle Nguyen took her 4-year-old daughter to the Mid-Autumn Festival to give her interesting experiences. Michelle Nguyen said: “She asked me where we were going today. I said we were going to have a Mid-Autumn Festival and said that she would see a lion dance, play with lanterns and eat delicious food. It was Children’s Day, a day when children everywhere are happy.”
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| Jinn Hoang performed a fire-breathing performance during the Mid-Autumn Festival in West Hartford, Connecticut, on September 3. Photo: CONNECTICUT PUBLIC |
Connecticut Public Radio quoted a man named Phung Hoang about the Mid-Autumn Festival: “As far as I can remember, the festival takes place at the end of the summer harvest that people have planned for the whole year. So it’s important to try to have a good harvest.”
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| Julianna Ho (5 years old) danced at the Mid-Autumn Festival in West Hartford, Connecticut, on September 3. Photo: CONNECTICUT PUBLIC |
Particularly for children like Isabella Nguyen (13 years old), and Julia Ng (12 years old), the attraction at the festival is nothing but moon cakes. Julia said: “The mooncakes taste so good and I can eat a lot.” As for Isabella, she is happy to go out with family and friends.
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| Isabella Nguyen and her friend Julia Ng at the fish cake stall during the Mid-Autumn Festival in West Hartford, Connecticut, September 3. Photo: CONNECTICUT PUBLIC |
“I have learned from my relatives about Vietnamese customs and habits because we are Vietnamese,” said Isabella, proudly.
Mid-autumn festival opens in Hanoi’s Old Quarter
NDO – The 2017 Mid-autumn festival kicked off in front of Dong Xuan Market gate in Hanoi’s Old Quarter on the evening of September 22 with a joyful drum performance and lion dance.
Trong Quan Singing in Bui Xa
Trong quan singing, a type of popular art which alternates singing with drum accompaniments, has been performed for over 700 years in Bui Xa Village, Ninh Xa Commune, Thuan Thanh District of northern Bac Ninh Province. Local villagers are well aware of maintaining it as part of their cultural heritage which was formed in the land of the country’s ancient cultural hub.
Vietnamese community in Japan, France welcomes Lunar New Year
NDO – Overseas Vietnamese community in Japan and France have held a number of activities and ceremonies to welcome the Tet (Lunar New Year) festival.
Hanoi’s Old Quarter offers diverse entertainment during Mid-Autumn Festival
NDO/VNA – The traditional old quarter mid-autumn festival has started at the main gate of Dong Xuan market and the walking street area of Hang Dao to Hang Giay streets.
Vietnam’s Full Moon Festival
Every 15th of the Lunar August, usually around the end of September, countries across Asia celebrate the Mid-Autumn, or Full Moon Festival.
