Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival Celebrated Globally with Festive Events
Beijing, The Gulf Observer: The Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, is marking its annual observance on September 17 this year. This cherished festival, one of China’s most significant traditional holidays, is being commemorated around the world with vibrant displays of culture and community.
In Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed the festival’s significance in a video message on X (formerly Twitter). He highlighted how the festival serves as an uplifting reminder of shared history and multicultural enrichment, wishing all participants a joyful celebration.
The China Cultural Center in Yangon, Myanmar, hosted a lively festival event on Saturday featuring cultural performances, including poetry recitals, traditional music, and engaging quiz sessions. The gathering attracted nearly 150 attendees, including university students and local employees of Chinese enterprises. Among the highlights was a performance by 15-year-old Htet Thiri Win, who charmed the audience with her skillful Chinese zither playing.
Tin Maung Tun, rector of the University of Yangon, noted the deep appreciation both Myanmar and Chinese cultures have for the full moon, a symbol of harmony, reunion, and happiness. The event included poetry recitations for students learning Chinese.
In Laos, the China Cultural Center and the Faculty of Letters at the National University of Laos (NUOL) organized a poetry event celebrating the festival. NUOL Vice President Thongsouk Keomany praised the event as a valuable platform for fostering understanding and cooperation between Laos and China.
New Zealand’s Auckland Moon Festival featured the “Mid-Autumn Concert of Timeless Poetry,” attracting around 700 attendees. The concert showcased performances by local artists, including a notable rendition by Eru Oneroa, a 23-year-old singer who learned Mandarin for the occasion. Concert Director Liu Luxuan highlighted how the performances conveyed the essence of Chinese culture and China’s innovative spirit.
In Kenya, the Africa Star Railway Operation Company (Afristar) and the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi co-hosted Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations. Wang Xinyu, a lecturer at the Confucius Institute, emphasized the event’s role in promoting cultural integration between China and Kenya. Nelson Asienwa of Afristar noted Kenyans’ growing appreciation for Chinese festivals and their resonance with local harvest traditions.
In Hungary, despite adverse weather conditions, the Mid-Autumn Festival drew over 400 attendees, surpassing organizers’ expectations. Jin Hao, director of the China Cultural Center in Budapest, expressed delight at the high turnout and hoped the event fostered greater connection and understanding between the Hungarian public and Chinese traditions.
These global celebrations reflect the widespread appreciation of the Mid-Autumn Festival’s themes of reunion, harvest, and cultural exchange, bringing people together from diverse backgrounds to celebrate traditional Chinese culture.
