The Mid-Autumn festival is named "Tết Trung Thu" in Vietnamese.
The Vietnamese version of the holiday recounts the legend of Cuội, whose wife accidentally urinated on a sacred banyan tree, taking him with it to the Moon. Every year, on the mid-autumn festival, children light lanterns and participate in a procession to show Cuội the way to Earth.[8]
In Vietnam, Mooncakes are typically square rather than round, though round ones do exist. Besides the indigenous tale of the banyan tree, other legends are widely told including the story of the Moon Lady, and the story of the carp who wanted to become a dragon.[8]
One important event before and during Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival are lion dances. The dances are performed by both non-professional children group and trained professional groups. Lion dance groups perform on the streets go to houses asking for permission to perform for them. If accepted by the host, "the lion" will come in and start dancing as a wish of luck and fortune and the host gives back lucky money to show thankfulness.
According to Benjaminh
Tết Trung Thu is a time for fun dancing with friends,
time for cuddling on the end of the pier with mama,
time for a waterfront dance party and photo shoot
and a time for a lantern procession along the water, well back from the drummer.
It is NOT a time for lion dances.
Or the sharing of Lucky Money with that lion to show thankfulness.
There was a professional lion dance group invited to join tonight's festivities and mama would have loved to see them dance but it was not to be.
The wee manh experienced terror. And weeping and screaming followed by escape. We first escaped to the bar out of view but within drum distance...then to the kitchen, still within drum distance...and finally to the very end of the pier. Where mama and Ben celebrated the Harvest Moon but dancing and singing our favourite songs well out of drum distance while we watched for the big bright moon and enjoyed the lakefront views..
When the dancing and drumming, the drama and drumming, well, anything drummish or maskish really, came to an end Ben and I rejoined the party...where it was discovered that the drum itself was not the problem-as long as Ben was the one doing the drumming.
We had a wonderful time. Together. And with special friends. While simultaneously developing a new phobia/fear of lion dances.
Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!
3 comments:
OH he looks so handsome in his outfit!!! beautiful pictures and beautiful blogging...loved reading every bit of it! Glad you both had a wonderful time..was laughing at some parts for sure..tooo cute! xxx to little B and of course to big B..:)
M. also finds the lion dances scary.
Speaking of lion terror, Emily is still going around a week later saying, "Emily scared of lion." Meanwhile, she keeps asking for the camera so she can see the pics of the lion. I guess it's okay as long as it's just a photo?? Was great to see you guys at the party!
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