Moon Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival Today we are going to pay tribute to all of our Asian students. At our school, Hispania, Spanish school, we love Asian culture and we are knowledgeable about some of its most important festivals and traditions. one of
Today we will pay tribute to all our asian students.
In our school, Hispania, Spanish school, we love Asian culture and we are knowledgeable about some of its most important festivals and traditions.
One of them is the millennial Moon Festival, which is celebrated in many countries such as China, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand and Korea.
In this article we will explore the essence and meaning of the Moon Festival, delving into the legends that surround it, the customs and activities in this celebration.
We will discover how moon cakes, the lit lanterns and the adoration of the beautiful full moon They become the key elements of this very special festivity.
As you can see, at Hispania, a Spanish school, we embrace knowledge in general and we also disseminate cultural articles about other countries.
Remember that if you want learn spanish In the most awarded school in Spain, we will welcome you with open arms in our face-to-face Spanish courses and online Spanish courses.
Join us on this fascinating journey to discover one of the most emblematic festivities of the Asian continent.
Welcome to the Moon Festival!
The Moon Festival is also called Mid-Autumn Festival.
It is celebrated with great emphasis in China, but also in other countries such as Vietnam, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore or Japan.
This very popular festival in East Asia takes place at the time when the full moon appears bigger and more radiant.
The Moon Festival, with its fascinating myths and legends, is an opportunity for families meet and enjoy their company.
The Moon Festival It is a traditional festival whose original purpose was thank you the abundant harvest of the year, worshiping the full moon as a symbol of nature.
The holiday is associated with several Chinese legends, one of the best known being history of Chang'e, the goddess of the moon.
According to legend, Chang'e consumed an elixir of immortality and ascended to the moon, where he resides along with the jade rabbit.
This story has been passed down through the centuries and has become an integral part of the Autumn Festival.
The Moon Festival has its roots in ancient China and has been celebrated for more than 2,000 years.
Its origin It dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), although some of its elements can be traced back even further into Chinese history.
Over the centuries, the holiday has spread to other Asian countries.
In countries like China or Japan, the Moon Festival is in september or october.
It is during this night when the moon is at its most shiny and round, and it is considered the ideal time to admire it and enjoy its beauty.
Although we will see later how in other countries there are other dates.
Over the years, the Moon Festival has evolved, adapting to the different cultures and traditions of the regions where it is celebrated.
However, the spirit of gratitude, family unity and admiration for the moon It remains the core of this very special holiday.
The date of the Moon Festival varies every year because it is governed by chinese lunar calendar.
Generally, the festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, which corresponds to September or October.
For example, the Mid-Autumn Festival in China this year 2023 is on September 29.
Do you want to know how people in China celebrate the September Moon Festival or the October Moon?
Keep reading, we'll tell you.
During the Moon Festival in China, the family dinner It is a fundamental part of the celebration. Families gather to share a special meal.
During dinner, they are served traditional dishes, such as roast duck, fish, spring rolls and others.
Family dinner symbolizes family unity and love, and is a time to strengthen ties between close relatives.
The chinese mooncakes They are one of the most important elements representative of this Chinese festival.
These round and sweet cakesThey are made with a thin dough, and filled with different flavors, such as lotus seed paste, red bean paste, walnuts or duck egg yolk.
In addition to his delicious taste, mooncakes usually have decorative designs that represent good luck symbols.
Some of these symbols are the moon itself, rabbits, flowers or Chinese characters.
The full moon cake is shared among family and friends as a token of unity and good wishes.
The moon observation It is a central activity during Chinese Moon Festival.
Families gather outdoors, on patios or terraces, and enjoy the splendor of the full moon.
It is common to bring small chairs and tables to create a comfortable environment under the autumn moon.
At the same time, they sing songs and it is common to make wishes on the full moon.
The moon is at its brightest and roundest point during this night, making it a symbol of plenitude and harmony.
The lights in lanterns They are also an important element in the celebration of these holidays in China.
During this festival, lantern exhibitions are organized in parks and squares, where a variety of designs creative and colorful.
These lanterns usually have the shapes of animals, flowers, characters from Chinese mythology and other traditional motifs that make up the symbols of autumn in this festival.
Children and adults walk through the places decorated with lanterns, enjoying the festive atmosphere and marveling at the beautiful illuminations.
The Full Moon Festival Thailand It's spectacular.
The event that takes place in the Koh Phangan island, known as Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan.
The Full Moon Party in Thailand attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world. It is celebrated in the Haad Rin beach during the night of the full moon.
These parties in Thailand usually begin at dusk and continue until the early hours of the morning. The beach is filled with people dancing, electronic music blaring cocktail bars and food stalls.
The Full Moon Party It is known for its festive and wild atmosphere. The beach lights up with fluorescent and neon lights, and attendees often paint their bodies with fluorescent paint to add to the colorful atmosphere.
There are also fire shows and flaming rope jumps.
In Thailand the Moon Festival is celebrated on the night of full moon of each month.
Would you like to go to The Moon Festival 2023?
You're still on time! The festivals from September to December are these:
Normally this Thai festival is celebrated once a month, although there are times that it can be repeated twice in the same month.
Entrance to Koh Phangan Full Moon Festival It is generally free. A ticket is not required to access Haad Rin Beach during the celebration.
However, keep in mind that some establishments may charge a admission fee if there are private parties or special events at your facilities.
During this festival in Thailand there is a wide drinks and meals offer Available in bars and beach stalls. These products, of course, are not free either.
You also have the possibility of hiring travel agencies that offer party packages to the Full Moon Party with transportation, drinks or additional activities.
If you are planning to attend the Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan, we recommend staying near Haad Rin beach.
This is the main location where the party takes place and will allow you to be close to all the action.
Haad Rin has a wide variety of accommodation options, ranging from hotels and resorts luxury to hostels and bungalows more economical.
Are you in Vietnam and you don't know what to do on the Full Moon?
We tell you: Run to the city of Hoi An!
During theFull Moon Festival in Vietnam, the Hoi An city lights up with thousands of lanterns and colored lanterns.
The streets, houses and shops are decorated with these beautiful lights, creating a magical atmosphere in one of the most charming Buddhist festivals there is.
The electric lights go out and vehicles are restricted in some areas, allowing visitors to enjoy the tranquil and romantic atmosphere that the city offers.
During the festival, locals and visitors throw small paper boats with sails lit, known as Bái Chòi in the Thu Bon River.
This is done as a way of honor ancestors and send good wishes. It is also common to see people carrying paper lanterns and candles in the streets.
In addition to these activities, the Full Moon Festival in Hoi An also offers traditional music and dance, cultural presentations in the streets and water puppet shows.
The Full Moon Festival in Hoi An has a religious character, hence many religious practices are carried out in the temples and local shrines.
This festival takes place monthly, on the 14th day of each lunar month.
The festivities begin at sunset and continue until midnight.
During the remainder of the year, you will be able to see it in the following months:
The celebration of Full Moon Day takes place in the old district from Hoi An, specifically in the area that goes from the Cau An Hoi Bridge to the Japanese Covered Bridge.
During the festivities, the nearby streets also fill with activity, but the highlight is the flow of hundreds of colorful lanterns being released into the Thu Bon River.
Tourists have the opportunity to join the tradition by purchasing these lanterns for less than one euro.
To have a good view of the celebration, you can choose one of the numerous street cafes that border the river.
The panoramic views from Cau An Hoi Bridge with all the people and the lights they are spectacular.
Let us now delve into the Tsukimi. That's what it's called the Moon Festival in Japan.
At this autumn festival, the admiration towards the moon and the family union They are also very important, as in the rest of the countries mentioned.
However, it has some differences, especially in its history, traditional food and decorations.
The history of Tsukimi in Japan goes back centuries.
Tsukimi is said to have originated in the Heian period (794-1185), when the Japanese aristocracy appreciated the beauty of the moon and performed rituals in its honor.
Originally, that happy autumn night was enjoyed only among the nobility and was held in thepalace gardens.
Over time, Tsukimi spread to the entire population and became a popular festival.
To this day, Tsukimi remains an important celebration in Japan.
The spirit of appreciation for nature and the full moon remains intact.
Just like the Autumn Festival in China, the Tsukimi follows the lunar calendar and is celebrated between the months of September and October every year.
This year 2023 is the September 29.
There are several traditional foods that are associated with the holiday and are enjoyed during celebrations of the japanese autumn.
Some of these traditional foods are:
The Tsukimi decorations are a fundamental part of the party.
Some of the most common decorations that are set up are the following:
The Autumn Festival is also celebrated in Korea. Here it is called Chuseok.
Do you want to know its characteristics? Keep reading!
Chuseok is also celebrated in the months of September or October, following the lunar calendar.
It is known as the Thanksgiving Day in Korea and extends over three days.
During this holiday, Koreans return to their hometown to spend a happy autumn with their families, eat opulent meals and honor your ancestors.
The Korean Moon Festival It has many similarities in its celebration with respect to China or Japan.
The most important thing is the family, the gifts and remember the ancestors.
During the family dinner certain traditional foods are prepared and consumed.
For example, the songpyeon, which is a type of rice cake filled with different ingredients; and the juak, a kind of fermented rice wine.
One of the most notable activities during Chuseok is the seongmyo, which is a visit to the resting place of the ancestors.
Families go to family cemeteries and perform grave-cleaning rituals, offer food and drink, and express respect and gratitude towards their ancestors.
They couldn't miss the gifts during this party. There are 5 gifts which are usually very common:
And this was it!
In this article we have taken a great tour of China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam and Korea talking about the Moon Festival in each country and learning about one of the most beautiful and beloved festivals on the Asian continent.
In Hispania, Spanish school, We love learning about all the cultures of the rest of the world, it is a topic that always fascinates our students in our spanish courses.
After writing this article, we have a crazy desire to travel to these countries during these holidays.
Which country of those mentioned attracts your attention the most to visit during the Full Moon Festival?
Comment and we'll talk.
See you soon!
Article written by Carlos Martinez for Hispania, Spanish school.
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