Mid-Autumn Festival past and present: Values ​​that remain enduring

VHO - The Mid-Autumn Festival has changed a lot over time, but values ​​such as family reunion and childhood joy are still preserved.

Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Reunion Festival, is one of the most important and unique traditional holidays in Vietnamese culture. Over the centuries, this festival has constantly changed and adapted to modern life, but its core values ​​​​are still preserved. So how is the Mid-Autumn Festival different from the Mid-Autumn Festival today and what values ​​​​still exist over time?

Mid-Autumn Festival in the past: A festival for adults, for children

In ancient Vietnam, Mid-Autumn Festival was associated with agricultural life, the time when crops were harvested, the air was pleasant and the land was lush. People celebrated the festival not only for fun but also to express gratitude to nature, heaven and earth and pray for a bountiful harvest next year.

On the full moon night of August, families prepare moon cakes, sticky rice cakes, fruits and tea. This is a ritual to show respect to ancestors and also an occasion for family reunion. After the worship ceremony, everyone enjoys the moon cakes together under the bright moonlight, chatting, telling folk stories and singing traditional tunes.

Children are the focus of the festival. They carry star lanterns, dance with lions, break cakes and receive simple gifts. These activities not only bring joy, but also help children learn about folklore and legends such as Cuoi, Hang and the story of the moon. Therefore, the Mid-Autumn Festival in the past was an occasion to unite families, a foundation for values ​​of love and community.

Mid-Autumn Festival in 1915 on Hang Gai Street, Hanoi . Photo taken by photographer Léon Busy, part of Albert Kahn's color photo collection.

Mid-Autumn Festival today: Change and adaptation to modernity

In modern society, Mid-Autumn Festival is no longer a festival that only takes place in families or villages. Mid-Autumn Festival activities today have been expanded to schools, shopping centers, parks and residential areas. The festival becomes more vibrant and diverse, with brilliant lights from thousands of lanterns, many art performances such as lion dance, dragon dance, music and folk games are recreated.

Moon cakes, from traditional cakes, have now been varied with many strange fillings, less sweet, even mini sizes to suit the preferences of modern consumers. Luxurious Mid-Autumn gift boxes chosen by businesses as gifts for partners or customers have also become a unique cultural feature, combining the spirit of the festival and brand value.

In addition, the Mid-Autumn Festival is now also an occasion for localities and cities to organize street festivals, creating cultural highlights, attracting tourists and developing tourism. Outdoor activities, fairs, lantern exhibitions and Mid-Autumn food streets bring a lively experience, making the festival more intimate but also richer.

Image of Mid-Autumn Festival in Tuyen Quang.

Core values ​​are still preserved

Despite many changes in form, Mid-Autumn Festival still retains profound humanistic values:

Family reunion and affection: Mid-Autumn Festival is always an occasion for family members to gather together, share joy and enjoy the feast together. People far from home, when remembering Mid-Autumn Festival, also remember their family, the full moon of their childhood.

Children’s joy: Mid-Autumn Festival is still a Children’s Festival – children are at the center. Activities such as lantern processions, feasts, and lion dances help children experience the festival, develop creativity and community spirit.

Respect for nature and ancestors: Although the festival has been modernized, the ritual of worshipping the moon and thanking nature is still preserved. The full moon in August is still a symbol of fullness, fulfillment and bountiful harvest.

Community bonding: Mid-Autumn Festival brings villages, neighborhoods, schools and communities closer together. Cultural activities, street festivals, folk games, lion dances, lantern parades… create solidarity and mutual love.

Preserving cultural identity: Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the important festivals that helps the young generation understand national traditions and promote folk cultural values ​​through activities, games, cakes and rituals.

Mid-Autumn Festival then and now: Notable differences

Organizational form: In the past, it was mainly family and village, now it has expanded to schools, commercial centers, and tourist areas.

Moon Cakes: In the past, there were only traditional baked cakes and sticky rice cakes, but now there are also strange fillings, mini cakes, low-sugar cakes, and luxurious boxed cakes.

Activities: In the past, there were moon worshiping rituals, small lion dances, and simple lantern processions. Now there are street festivals, art shows, lantern exhibitions, and food streets.

Target audience: Traditionally focused on children, but today there are more activities for all ages, including adults.

Socio-economic significance: Nowadays, Mid-Autumn Festival is also combined with trade development, tourism and promotion of local culture.

The Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival, despite going through many decades, still retains important humanistic values: solidarity, childhood joy, gratitude to nature and ancestors, and community cohesion. The modernization and transformation of the Mid-Autumn Festival today does not fade the traditional values ​​but also helps the festival become rich, lively and suitable for modern life.

Preserving and promoting these values ​​is not only the responsibility of the family but also of the whole society. Therefore, Mid-Autumn Festival will always be a sacred holiday, connecting the past, present and future, carrying with it joy, affection and Vietnamese cultural identity.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/trung-thu-xua-va-nay-nhung-gia-tri-van-ben-vung-170135.html