Tet Trung Thu or Thanksgiving is one of the important festivals in Vietnam. The day falls on 15th of eighth month in lunar calendar. It is also known as moon festival. Legend has it that wife of Cuoi had, by mistake, passed urine on sanctified banyan tree. Not knowing that she defiled the tree, she then sat on the branch of the tree. But the tree started to grow exponentially high up the sky to touch the moon which left Cu?i's wife trapped on the tree. So, during Tet Trung Thu festival, children take part in procession carrying lanterns as a gesture to show Cuoi's wife path back to earth. Families especially make children the heart of this celebration. They purchase lantern for children for moon festival procession. It is a time when all families and friends get together and wish each other on this special occasion. Tet Trung Thu is celebrated with much fervor and gaiety in Vietnam.
Thanksgiving Day in Vietnam
Tet Trung Thu or Thanksgiving in Vietnam is celebrated in mid autumn. Check out for information on Tet Trung Thu in the following article.
Tet Trung Thu
- On this day, children carry lantern procession early in the morning. Children particularly like carrying star lantern.
- People bake square shape moon cakes rather than usual round shape. Families and friends gather together for a sumptuous dinner under moonlight. Moon cakes and special Vietnamese cuisine are served during the festival.
- At the dinner table, parents and elders narrate folk stories of carp, moon lady and banyan tree to children.
- The folk tale of Moon Lady goes like this: Once upon a time, there was a man called Chu Coi who came across a sacred tree that had healing powers and folks were barred from defiling the tree such as disposing off filth from the body or body fluid. However, one day Chu Coi's wife forgot the rule. She thus ended up defiling the tree. While she was sitting on the branch of the tree, the tree grew tall and reached the moon. From then onwards, Chu Coi's wife remained stranded on the moon and never to come back on earth. This was the punishment meted out to her for polluting the sacred tree.
- Parents also narrate the mythical story of carb whose aim was to become a dragon one day. Carb worked so hard that finally it was able to change into dragon. Giving the example of carb, parents inspire children to go ahead with the goal they have set for themselves and achieve it.
- Children indulge in arts and crafts activities where they make lanterns and face masks. They present programs such as traditional lion dance and unicorn dance during Tet Trung Thu festival.
- There are dance troupes that perform lion dances on the streets. They go from house to house to offer lion dance performance. They perform lion dance for the host and shower blessing and good fortune for the home. The host reciprocates by giving them money.