Vietnam has a fascinating culture. The everyday life of the inhabitants of this country is significantly different from that of Americans. With such a contrasting way of life, Vietnam also hones several diverse and attractive holidays. Some of these attractive holidays include Tết (Vietnamese New Year), Tết Trung Thu (Mid-Autumn Festival), Tết Đoan Ngọ (Double Fifth Festival), and Lễ Phật Đản (Buddha Day). Each of these holidays has a unique history, wonderful traditions, and most importantly, delicious food! In my essay, I want to talk about one of them, the Mid-Autumn Festival, in more detail.
The Mid-Autumn Festival has been important to families in Vietnam for many years. While Tết (Vietnamese New Year) is the most important holiday, this festival would be the second most important. It’s said that originally the Mid-Autumn Festival came as a way for parents to make up for lost time with their children after harvest season. The harvest was done by September, and the parents were anxious to spend time with their children and do something special with them, as well as celebrate the harvest, after spending so much time working for the family. It was held under the full moon, which represents the fullness and prosperity of life. The Mid-Autumn Festival dates back as far as 15-20,000 years ago in Southeast Asia and is traditionally held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month.
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Traditions on this occasion include eating mooncakes, a lantern procession, and just like Tết, the lion dance. Today, there are many aisles selling mooncakes all over Vietnam’s streets. These cakes are made with lotus seeds, green beans, and egg yolk, though there are varieties. Mooncakes are essential in each family party or meal at the Mid-Autumn Festival. When walking through the streets in Vietnam, there are many people carrying brightly lit lanterns, and many lanterns hanging on towers or floating sky lanterns. Another tradition involving lanterns is to write riddles on them and have other people try to guess the answer. Usually, people are on the go during the Mid-Autumn Festival, so popular foods other than mooncakes include banh bao and banh xeo. Banh bao is perfect to eat for this festival because they are round and white, like the full moon. It makes for a great portable snack or light lunch. Banh bao is a fluffy Vietnamese steamed bun with a savory filling. The most common filling is ground pork, onions, mushroom, Chinese sausage, and a hard-boiled egg. Banh xeo are sizzling pancakes (also round). Bright yellow (like some moons), these crispy crepes are filled with shrimp, pork, and fresh vegetables.
This exciting holiday shows how unique and appealing Vietnam’s holidays are. The Mid-Autumn Festival, like the others, has a rich history, lively celebrations, neat traditions, and appetizing food. All of these traits are very different than the holidays celebrated in America. This holiday is able to bring excitement and joy to all families.
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