Sharing Celebrations Across Cultures

Monday, October 6, marked the Mid-Autumn Festival, a traditional celebration in many East Asian cultures that is centered around family reunions, giving thanks for the harvest and appreciating the beauty of the full moon. At Dana Hall, three student groups hosted on-campus events in conjunction with the festival.

At the Mid-Autumn Dinner, co-hosted by the International Student Association (ISA) and Asian Affinity Group (AAG), students dined under the moon, and socialized with new and returning Asian and international students, said AAG co-head I. Ding 26. “I come from a Chinese family, so the Mid-Autumn Festival is a tradition for us each year,” she said. “I loved getting to connect with my friends and relax in the midst of this busy school year. I also cherished it as it’s my last Mid-Autumn Dinner at Dana.” ISA co-head P. Wei ’27 said she enjoyed "sitting together with friends and chatting. I celebrated Mid-Autumn back in China, so I appreciate the continuation of this tradition."

Over the weekend, the Foodie Club hosted an event with mooncake tasting, lantern decorating, coloring pages and videos about the holiday. “As an international student from Shanghai, China, I’ve always celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival every year,” said Foodie Club co-head A. Che ’27. “I still remember in elementary school, our dining hall would serve them as dessert at lunch on that day. Each of us would also bring a mooncake from home, cut it into quarters and exchange pieces with friends around the table to try different flavors. I remember only enjoying the red bean paste ones, but the tradition of sharing made it special. Hosting this event reminded me of this special memory.”

Foodie Club co-head K. Visco ’27 said, “[Our] club is all about sharing experiences and cultures through food. Hosting this Mid-Autumn event was the perfect fit for Foodie Club because it allowed people to be reminded of their own special memories or try a mooncake for the first time. Being able to have these experiences on campus with people from all different backgrounds is how Foodie Club is able to connect our community together through food.”