Every Vietnamese child dreams about an amazing Tết Trung Thu with his or her own brightly lit lantern and a belly full of mooncakes. Tết Trung Thu, Mid-Autumn Festival or the Full Moon Festival, is also known in Vietnam as the “Children’s Festival”. It is an important cultural event that takes place on the Full Moon night (the 15th day) of the 8th lunar month. It is believed that the moon shines brightest at this time during the whole year. Another important part of Mid-Autumn Festival is the celebration of the harvest, as many Vietnamese live in rural areas and work as farmers. The event marks a joyous occasion when the work is finished and there’s time to spend with loved ones.
While Mid-autumn Festival is celebrated in many Asian countries, the Vietnamese version has its own traditions and legends. The best-known tale is about a man named Cuội who hung on to a magical banyan tree as it floated up to the moon. As the legend goes, if you look closely at the full moon, you can see the shadow of a man sitting under a tree. Children parade lanterns in the streets the night of Mid-Autumn Festival to help light the way to earth for Cuội from the moon.
In honor of the deep roots of the Vietnamese community in the Crosstown neighborhood, dating back over 50 years, the Vietnamese American Community, Crosstown Concourse, Crosstown Arts have partnered to host a Mid-Autumn Festival in Concourse’s central atrium.
We’re excited to announce that this year’s activities have been expanded to include a broader range of programming and locations to help Memphians become better aware of the Vietnamese community and its long history in the Crosstown neighborhood.
Here’s what we have planned:
Thursday, October 2 – Crosstown Arts Film Series presents Ink & Linda
Kick off Mid-Autumn season with a truly entertaining documentary in the Crosstown Arts Theater.
Ink & Linda
This documentary feature centers on the unexpected collaboration of two artists from different disciplines and generations. Inksap is a first-generation Vietnamese American in his twenties who channels his pain and history in his street art, while Linda is a stateswoman in her seventies who is accomplished in the realm of modern dance. Together, they run around Los Angeles, putting their art in buildings while evading the authorities’ prying eyes. Crossing the boundaries between generations and cultures, their story defies the conventions of art and society. It is the story of a young man finding his identity; a woman in the last chapter of her life starting a new one; and of finding family where you least expect it.
In addition to regular drinks and popcorn, a special Vietnamese cocktail, mochi donuts, mooncakes and other Vietnamese snacks will be available for purchase.
Saturday, October 4 – Mid-Autumn Festival
Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as Mooncake Festival, is a traditional children’s festival that will delight the whole family. Join us for a magical, family-friendly evening celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival at Crosstown Concourse! Enjoy live music, traditional lion dance performances, and fun for the whole family with face painting and a fashion show.
Savor the sweet taste of tradition with free mooncakes and explore the rich heritage of our local temples. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the beauty of Asian culture!
Tuesday, October 14 – Fright-tober and Crosstown Arts Film Series presents “The Ancestral”
Join us in the Crosstown Arts Theater for a special screening of The Ancestral to celebrate the season of Mid-Autumn, as well as Fright-tober. And catch other Fright-tober features every Tuesday in October.
The Ancestral
Following the death of his wife, Thang (Quang Tuan) moves his daughters Linh (Lam Thanh My) and Yen (Mai Cat Vi) into an old family estate. When both daughters fall prey to unsettling visions and night terrors, their father seeks the help of a local psychologist. Something far more sinister inhabits the walls of this ancient home, and the family must band together to free themselves from the terrifying grip of the past.
In addition to regular drinks and popcorn, a special Vietnamese cocktail, mochi donuts, mooncakes and other Vietnamese snacks will be available for purchase.
Saturday, October 18 – An Afternoon of Meditation and Vietnamese Culinary Culture
This two-part experience explores key fixtures of the Vietnamese community in Memphis.
Part 1
3:00-4:00pm – Chánh Tâm was one of the first Buddhist Temples in Memphis. For the first stop, join us at the Buddhist Temple for a mindfulness meditation service (in English) and learn more about the temple and the history of the Vietnamese community in Memphis.
Part 2
4:30-7:00pm – the second activity, the group will participate in a Community Culinary Experience. Have you ever wanted to learn more about the Viet Hoa Market (40 N Cleveland St), but felt too shy or intimidated to ask? Well, now is your chance!
Join us for a tour of the market to learn more about the unique offerings. In addition to the tour, participants will assemble the main ingredients for a special culinary lesson that will take place in the teaching kitchen at Church Health at Crosstown Concourse. The group will be lead in a cooking demo featuring favorite Vietnamese dinner dishes, along with wine pairings for each. Once finished, the group will eat together and learn more about Vietnamese cuisine. Sit down, enjoy a glass of wine and great company!
This unique experience dives into the Vietnamese culture and cuisine. With limited seating, it will book up fast. Grab your tickets HERE!
Thursday, October 23 – Dharma Talk – “Mindful Living: Finding Calm in a Busy World”
Mindfulness has gained popularity recently, but what does it truly mean? Within Buddhism, mindfulness is practiced together with concentration and insight as a path to awareness and wisdom. How can we effectively apply mindfulness in our busy lives to cultivate peace and clarity?
The Vietnamese American Community, Crosstown Concourse and Crosstown Arts are excited to invite you to a special evening of meditation and teaching with Buddhist monk Thích Pháp Hòa, Venerable Abbot at Truc Lam Monastery and Westlock Meditation Center in Edmonton, Canada. Thích Pháp Hòa is a well-respected Vietnamese Buddhist monk known for his insightful and approachable Dharma talks that offer guidance for living. He was officially ordained as a monk at the age of 15, and later received full Bhikkhu ordination in Plum Village, France under the transmission master, Thích Nhất Hạnh. He is a prominent monk who has held positions as the abbot of Trúc Lâm Monastery and Westlock Meditation Centre. Thầy’s teachings have resonated with communities around the world, as he blends profound teachings with relatable anecdotes with an emphasis on living in the present moment, mindful communication, and simplicity.
Following Thích Pháp Hòa’s meditation and Dharma lecture, he will be joined by Rev. Dr. Jason Turner (Senior Pastor, Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church) and Tom Shadyac (founder of Memphis Rox and film director, producer, and writer widely known for Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Nutty Professor, Liar Liar, Patch Adams, and Bruce Almighty) for a roundtable discussion and Q&A session on prayer and mindfulness from the perspectives of their own faith traditions.”
A second Dharma talk in Vietnamese will follow this discussion at 8:00pm.
Reserve your space for the English talk HERE.
Reserve your space for the Vietnamese talk HERE.
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