Call Us: (6)03 - 7932 1001 | Email: eva@artiste.com.my

Exploring Asia: The Legendary Moon Festival

Friday, 29 September 2017 01:52 Read 2278 times

Moon Festival, or more generally known as Mid-Autumn Festival is just around the corner, we believe everybody is excited and getting ready to celebrate this meaningful festival with your friends and family. Have you ever thought of how other Asian countries celebrate this special festive? Let us bring you for a quick tour on how the other Asian countries celebrate this festive differently according to their cultural background and custom:

Japan

Image Credited to Global Sourcing Blog

In Japan, Mid-Autumn Festival is known as Tsukimi. Tsukimi brings the meaning of celebrating harvest moon or the end of the harvest season. Japanese believe that when the moon is at its brightest and fullest, it marks the end of harvest season. More than that, families in Japan will decorate their home with susuki grass near the window to drive away bad spirits. They have also modified the legend about a jade rabbit who lives on the moon with a twist - that the rabbit on the moon makes rice cakes as well. Therefore, the traditional food served during this festival is rice cakes & rice dumplings. 

Singapore

Image Credited to Hpility SG

In Singapore, Mid-autumn Festival is a great time for them to express gratitude, give greetings, and make friendly contacts by sending mooncake, especially for business partner, friends, and relatives. In recent years, lantern painting competition has become popular among the communities. The most creative lanterns will be displayed along Pagoda Street until the festival night. You can also head over to Clarke Quay to see the beautiful display of themed lanterns along the riverside which has become one of the hot spots during the celebration. Other highlights include lantern riddle-solving, seashore party or moon-appreciating party on the beach with colorful LED lanterns and mooncakes.  

Malaysia

Image Credited to Sina English    

Image Credited to The Star Online

In Malaysia, the Chinese community has the customs of eating mooncakes under the bright full moon and playing lanterns with their family members during the night. In certain states, lantern carnivals are held with various activities like lion and dragon dances, as well as youngsters singing and performing happily on the stage. Penang is a wonderful place to visit during the Mid-Autumn Festival, where there is a “Night Lantern Walk” in Penang Hill, Wushu, dragon and lion dance competitions at Straits Quay Square, and lantern parade at George Town.

South Korea

Image Credited to Pinterest.com    

  Image Credited to The Hive.Asia

In South Korea, Mid-Autumn Festival is called Chuseok, also known as the Korean Thanksgiving and is disseminate across three days. Korean people will travel back to their hometown and spend time with their families. It is also the time for them to pay respect to their ancestors. Prior to the celebration night, South Koreans will go and sweep the tombs of their ancestors, a day or two before the festival. They celebrate by having all family members dancing together and appreciate the moon. As for food, muffins have a similar significance as mooncakes and is the highlight in South Korea. In addition, Koreans also consume songpyeon during the festival which are small rice cakes, shaped like a half moon symbolizing the sweetness of the future. 

Vietnam 

Image Credited to Vina.com

In Vietnam, the Mid-autumn festival is mainly for children, which parents will buy various types of lanterns, funny masks, and snacks for their children. Vietnamese will set up a worshiping platform during the night with mooncakes, snacks, and fruit as offering. You can see a lot of children carrying carp-shaped lanterns during the Mid-autumn festival to avoid being killed by carp spirit. Other than that, children will walk around the streets and ask the house owners for their permission to put on a lion dance show. They believed that the show will bring good luck or fortune for them. 

For more information / booking,
(o) +603-7932 1001
(e) This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.