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American Museum of Natural History

Vietnam Educator's Guide Activity: Holidays

Educator Guide Activity: Holidays

The Mid-Autumn Festival originated as a harvest celebration but has been transformed into a holiday largely for children.

  • Ask students to recall the features of this holiday (masks, toys, lanterns) from their visit to the exhibition.
  • Research the origins and current practices of some holidays in the United States. What features do they share with Vietnam’s Mid-Autumn Festival?
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The earth god and his companion dance in a lantern procession with children carrying star lanterns during the Mid-Autumn Festival. 

Photo: VME/Pham Van Duong


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At the Mid-Autumn market on Hang Ma Street in 2001, this vendor’s wares were handmade paper maché masks, including Donald Duck; plastic masks from China, including the Power Rangers; and Pickachu, an internationally recognized figure from Japanese cartoons. 
Photo: VME/Pham Van Duong


Copyright © 2003 American Museum of Natural History. All rights reserved.

  • More About This Resource...

    • This activity, designed as a follow-up to a visit to the museum's Vietnam: Journeys of Body, Mind & Spirit exhibition, examines the country's Mid-Autumn Festival.

      • The activity begins by asking students to recall what they learned about the Mid-Autumn Festival during their museum visit.
      • They first list features of the holiday, such as masks, lanterns, and toys.
      • Then, they research the origins and current practices of some holidays celebrated in the U.S. and discuss the features they share with Vietnam's Mid-Autumn Festival.

    • Completion Time

      Less than 1 period

    • Topic

      Anthropology

    • Subtopic

      Asia