Vietnamese Community in the US Celebrates Mid-Autumn Festival

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.

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.”

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.”

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.

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.