Midautumn Festival

WHAT IS IT? WHO CELEBRATES IT?

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional festival celebrated in China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and other East and South-eastern Asian countries. It is also called Zhongqiu Jie (中秋节), Tsukimi (月見), Chuseok (추석) and Tết Trung Thu (節中秋) depending on where you are! It falls on or around the 15th of the 8th month of the lunar calendar every year, which is when the moon is thought to be at its brightest and fullest size and coincides with harvest times in the middle of autumn. There are varying traditions in each culture, but all involve concepts such as gathering with family, giving gratitude and certain aspects of prayers. It’s often compared to the Western holiday of Thanksgiving for the similar ideas it celebrates!

WHEN IS IT THIS YEAR?

Zhongqiu Jie falls on the 10th September in 2022! Other variations of Mid-Autumn differ slightly in length and timing; for example, Tsukimi lasts until the 13th, Chuseok starts on the 9th and ends on the 11th and Tết Trung Thu starts on the 9th and ends on the 10th this year.

 

HOW IS IT CELEBRATED?

·       Chinese: for Zhongqiu Jie, people appreciate the full moon as a symbol of harmony and unity, cai deng mi (guessing riddles written on lanterns) and gather with family to share a meal where yue bing (mooncakes) and tang yuan (sticky glutinous rice balls) are commonly consumed

·       Japanese: display decorations made from susuki (Japanese pampas grass), consume Tsukimi dango (moon viewing rice cakes) and other Tsukimi dishes including matsutake mushrooms and moon gaze (as the name Tsukimi implies!)

·       Korean: people gather with family and have a feast during Chuseok, incorporating foods like songpyeon (half-moon shaped rice cakes), yakgwa (Korean honey cookies) and fruits, and some may practice charye (worshipping ancestors), beolcho and seongmyo (cleaning and visiting the grave)

·       Vietnamese: Tết Trung Thu is also seen as a children’s festival, so toys are given to children, families gather together and have a feast where Thu cakes, fruits and candy are consumed



WHAT’S THE SIGNIFICANCE?

New Zealand is a place where people from many cultures reside, giving us the opportunity to celebrate the diversity of the world. Unfortunately, many people still feel ostracised because they come from different backgrounds. These people could be your patients in the future.

Learning about cultural festivals such as the Mid-Autumn Festival can help you connect with your patients, helping them feel more included, relate to you and trust you more! You can do this by:

  • Maintaining an open mind and trying to appreciate the significance behind major festivals celebrated by different cultures around the world

  • Having conversations with friends from other backgrounds and making more active efforts to understand important festivals and holidays

  • Sharing your cultural traditions if you celebrate any and helping others learn about their meaning to you

  • Not being afraid to incorporate your knowledge into interactions with patients from different cultural backgrounds

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

Sonia Hua | 2022 Otago Mentor

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