Culture Smart: The Moon at Its Brightest

by Sheron Long on September 22, 2013

Moon cake, part of the Vietnamese tradition of the mid-Autumn Moon Festival

The round shape of the moon cake ties to family unity.

Family Times During Tet Trung Thu

On the 15th day of the 8th lunar month on the Chinese calendar, the moon is at its brightest, and Vietnamese families in all parts of the world are celebrating Tet Trung Thu (tet trūng tū). This mid-Autumn Moon Festival is similar in many ways to other harvest festivals throughout Asia, with one notable distinction.

Tet Trung Thu not only marks appreciation for a bountiful harvest, but specifically celebrates children and families.

Dating back 15 thousand years or more, there are many legends associated with the festivities that came about as a way for parents to make up for lost time with their children after the harvest season.

People fill the streets at night. The children don costumes and parade while singing and carrying colorful lanterns. Traditionally, the families make the outfits and lanterns together as a means of spending quality time together.

For many, the best part of Tet Trung Thu is the custom of exchanging Banh Trung Thu (bahn trūng tū), boxes of moon cakes. The tasty cakes are comprised of a pastry dough shell surrounding a rich filling that includes a bright yolk in the middle, representing the moon.

The moon cakes are only made during the festival, so each one is treasured and savored. How can you not admire a celebration where families spend time together, enjoying a sweet treat in the light of the brightest moon of the year?

Find out more about how Banh Trung Thu are made. To learn more about Vietnam and Vietnamese traditions, visit Vietnam-Culture.com.

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Culture Smart: The Moon at Its Brightest

Family Times During Tet Trung Thu

Image © iStockphoto

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