The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated in many parts of Asia, including Taiwan, China, Japan, South Korea and Vietnam. Of these, Vietnam stands out from the crowd with its distinct way of celebrating the festival. The country has a rich heritage of ancient legends and beliefs about the festival that have been passed down from generation to generation.
One of the most beloved stories surrounding Vietnam’s Mid-Autumn Festival is that of Chu Cu?i, a man who stumbled upon a mystical Bodhi tree while collecting firewood. Chu Cu?i utilized the leaves of this enchanted tree to heal the sick, saving countless lives. One day, the tree abruptly soared up into the sky to the Moon Palace, taking Chu Cu?i with it. Ever since then, Vietnamese people have commemorated him every Mid-Autumn Festival by lighting lanterns. They believe Chu Cu?i’s spirit returns to Earth on the night of the festival, and they light lanterns and offer fruit and cakes to welcome him back.
In addition to this traditional myth, lanterns are an essential part of Vietnam’s Mid-Autumn Festival. In ancient times, busy adults who had been focused on the harvest would take lanterns and spend time with their children, creating a festival devoted to kids. Today, the holiday is commonly referred to as Children’s Day in Vietnam. On the night of the full moon, children participate in a lantern parade featuring an array of delightful lanterns in all shapes and sizes. People believe these lanterns scare away evil spirits and bring good luck.
Photo courtesy of Freepik / 照片：Freepik 提供
While the rituals of the Mid-Autumn Festival may differ depending on the region, the atmosphere of Vietnam’s celebration is similar to that of other countries. It’s a time of unity, where people come together with their loved ones to celebrate and cherish the importance of family reunions.
亞洲許多地方都慶祝「中秋節」，包括臺灣、中國、日本、南韓和越南。其中，越南以其與眾不同的慶祝節日方式脫穎而出。這個國家擁有關於這個節日豐富的古老傳說和信仰，這些都被世代傳承下來。
越南中秋節最受喜愛的故事之一是關於阿貴，一個在拾柴時偶然發現了一棵神秘菩提樹的男子。阿貴利用這棵魔法樹的葉子來治療病人，挽救了無數生命。有一天，這棵樹突然地飛升到天上的月宮，帶著阿貴一起。從那時起，越南人民每逢中秋節就會點亮燈籠紀念他。他們相信阿貴的靈魂會在中秋夜返回人間，他們點亮燈籠並獻上水果和糕點歡迎他回來。
除了這個傳統的神話故事，燈籠是越南中秋節不可或缺的一部分。在古代，忙完農收的大人們，會拿著燈籠和孩子們一起度過，創造一個專屬於孩子們的節日。如今，這個節日在越南通常被稱為兒童節。在滿月之夜，孩子們參加燈籠遊行，這個遊行以各種形狀和大小的美麗燈籠為特色。人們相信這些燈籠可以驅趕邪靈並帶來好運。
雖然中秋節的習俗可能因地區而異，但越南慶祝活動的氛圍與其他國家相似。這是一個團結的時刻，人們與親人相聚，慶祝並珍視家庭團聚的重要性。
MORE INFORMATION
mystical adj. 神秘的
Bodhi n.（佛教）菩提
commemorate vt. 紀念；緬懷
KEY VOCABULARY
1. distinct adj. 明顯不同的；顯著的
The singer’s distinct voice made her stand out from the other performers.
這名歌手與眾不同的嗓音使她從其他表演者中脫穎而出。
2. generation n. 世代；一代
My grandparents belong to a different generation and have different values and beliefs than I do.
我的祖父母和我屬於不同的世代，擁有不同的價值觀和信仰。
3. beloved adj. 受喜愛的；心愛的
The precious watch was a gift from Roy’s beloved wife on their anniversary.
這只珍貴的手錶是羅伊心愛的妻子在他們的週年紀念日送給他的禮物。
4. soar vi. 升高；翱翔；聳立／soar (up) into 快速上升
The eagle soars high above the mountains and scans the landscape for its next prey.
老鷹在高山之上翱翔，俯瞰地面尋找下一個獵物。
5. myth n. 神話；迷思
According to ancient Greek myth, Zeus was the king of the gods and ruled over Mount Olympus.
根據古希臘神話，宙斯是眾神之王並統治著奧林帕斯山。
6. refer to 提到；說起 ／ refer to A as B 把A 稱為B
People often refer to Michael Jackson as the King of Pop.
人們經常將麥可‧傑克森稱為流行音樂之王。
7. array n. 一系列；大量／a(n) (adj.) array of 一系列的……；各式各樣的
The company offers an array of services to meet the needs of its clients.
那間公司提供各種服務以滿足客戶的需求。
8. atmosphere n. 氛圍；空氣
The tense atmosphere at work made it difficult for employees to concentrate.
此工作場所的緊張氣氛使員工難以專注。
9. reunion n. 團聚；重逢
The high school reunion brought back memories of our youth and old friendships.
高中同學會喚起了我們年輕時的回憶和往日的友誼。
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