4135(III)_Unprecedented Full Moon Mid Autumn Festival 2016

September 17, 2016

By VIE SC Team

Dalat, Vietnam, 16 September 2016 -- Festive and fun celebration of Mid-Autumn Festival across the country includes also few hundreds of young people of the Dalat Don Bosco. They prepared and enjoyd ​​a fantastic Full Moon Festival with a happy, harmonious celebrations.

They witnessed with many colorful lights of hundreds lanterns in their hands, along with the warm smile on their faces. Festive atmosphere began in the early evening with a preparation of lanterns decorated with pretty cassava hand holders.

The proper celebration started with the Mass celebration presided by Fr. Joseph Nguyen Chan Hung, Rector of Don Rua Da Lat. The whole Salesian community, lay mission partners, parent of our children and wider public joined together. After the Eucharist started the joyful celebrations: Children started the light procession around the sports field, with the lead of two lions and four giant lanterns, prepared by the Aspirants and Postnovices. Then followed a very interesting cultural program, prepared by the senior students with their catechists prepared already during past few days. In another parallel event the students could enjoy with many attractive dishes.

Full Moon Festival cultural program was ended with a thanksgiving of one Catholic Children and Youth representative who expressed the gratitude to the Salesians, senior brothers and sister catechists, parents and benefactors who with generosity and sacrifice make this Mid-Autumn festival possible.

Besides the joyful festival for the Catholic community children in Don Bosco, about 300 young people, including you post-novices, aspirants, University students enjoyed the exciting Full Moon festival in the streets of Dalat. The group marched together in the procession of giant lanterns with different iconic style like "Pokemon" and performed vibrant community dance in the heart of the Dalat City.

This marching activity attracted a lot of other young people, who in spite of the freezing weather and drizzling did not diminish the enthusiasm and energy of the group. After this exciting parade, the youth group gathered again at Don Bosco Institute to continue the fun of the Full Moon Festival 2016.

Through the group activities of Don Bosco Salesian Family, the young people had the opportunity to return to their childhood memories, as well to have an opportunity to join together with each other in a family spirit. It was a wonderful chance to growth in the Gospel spirit recommended by Jesus: ‘Become like children!’(Matthew Gospel 18,1-5)

NB: The Full Moon Festival is celebrated in many East Asian Countries, especially in China, Vietnam and Korea on the 15th day of the 8th month according the Lunar calendar. It’s the second most important traditional Feast Day after the New Year (Spring) Festival.