The University of Oklahoma Vietnamese Student Association (VSA) hosted its annual Lunar Moon Festival Sept. 26 in the Molly Shi Ballroom. VSA was able to showcase the talents of the Vietnamese-American students while educating the campus about their Vietnamese heritage with the monetary help of University of Oklahoma Student Association, use of technical equipment from Union Programming Board and dedication of many volunteers.
The Moon Festival, dated as far back as the first century, is usually celebrated in September or early October. Just like Christmas and Thanksgiving in the United States, the Moon Festival is one of the most important holidays in Asia.
“The purpose of having this at OU is definitely to increase Asian awareness about the events that the Vietnamese culture has,” said Yvonne Lai, pre-med junior.
There are many legends as to how the Moon Festival got its start. One of the most popular is the one about an archer and his wife. The earth once had ten suns circling it and scorching it with their heat. A strong archer, Hou Yi, saved the earth by shooting down nine of the suns. One day, Hou Yi stole the elixir of life from a goddess, but his wife, Chang Er, drank the elixir. After drinking it, she floated to the moon. Because Hou Yi loved his wife so much, he didn't shoot down the moon in fear of missing his shot and hurting her. Ever since then, they are allowed to see each other only once a year when the moon is at its fullest, the day of the Moon Festival.
During this celebration families gather to listen to legendary tales, look at the moon and eat traditional foods such as moon cakes. Moon cakes are filled with lotus seed paste, red bean paste or black bean paste with a hard-boiled salty yolk in the middle, representing the full moon. Making lanterns, burning incense and watching lion dances are other traditional Moon Festival activities.
VSA's new advisor and OU alum, Jennifer Nguyen, remembers attending the Moon Festival when she was in college. She is thankful she now has the opportunity to help VSA, especially with the Moon Festival.
Because the Moon Festival is rooted deeply in traditions, these Vietnamese Americans said they wanted their peers and the OU community to know what this festival is about and what it means to them.
“I think it’s really good to have different cultures come out to see the show so they know what we’re all about, why we celebrate Lunar Moon Festival, and just to increase Asian Awareness,” said Lai.
Before the two-hour show of singing, acting, dancing and even runway walking, participants had the opportunity to browse through the many booths set up in the ballroom. Participants were also able to learn more about the Vietnamese culture, buy arts and crafts and t-shirts, make a wish on a lantern and enter in a lantern-making contest.
“We wanted Vietnamese students, especially the international students to have a home away from home,” said sophomore, Quyen Nguyen. “This way they have their traditional celebrations in their new home.”
The lion dancing group of St. Andrew Dung Lac church opened the show with loud drums and cymbals and extravagant costumes as they moved throughout the ballroom interacting with attendees.
Next, freshman VSA representative, Paulinna Nguyen, sang the national anthem. Then, VSA president, Quyen Nguyen, and vice-president, Helen Vu, welcomed attendees as volunteers played traditional Vietnamese music on the piano.
The ladies of Phi Delta Alpha along with other VSA members performed a play using dancing, acting and improvising to remind and educate the attendees of the legend of the Moon Festival.
Master and mistress of ceremony, both seniors, Danny Mach and Dee Dee Ho quizzed the audience to make sure everyone was paying attention. They asked questions about the skit and Vietnamese traditions. Correct answers earned prizes such as Vietnamese snacks, VSA t-shirts and gift baskets.
Next, Yvonne Lai sang “Dreaming of You” in both Vietnamese and English. VSA officers followed with an original dance involving ribbon-twirling to the Vietnamese song “Cau Chuyen Tinh Toi.”
It was then time to reveal the winners in the lantern competition hosted by the men of Lambda Phi Epsilon. Contestants had the opportunity to get on stage to showcase his or her lantern and explain why he or she chose to build that particular lantern.
The longest-lasting event of the night, the fashion show, lasted about 15 minutes. The women of Alpha Kappa Delta Phi and other VSA members practiced long hours for the showcasing of modern men attire and traditional Vietnamese dresses. The models walked the runway to modern Vietnamese pop music.
Tram Anh Lai was the last act of the show. She played the piano while singing “Anh Trang Le Loi” in a traditional Vietnamese dress. This love song tells the story of a lover waiting for her significant other to return when the moon is full. Not only was the moon full the night of the Moon Festival, but the ballroom was also full of participants and attendees.
Members of VSA were thrilled with the high attendance, and volunteers said they learned about their culture while educating others. They are excited to apply what they have learned to next year’s festival.
To wrap up the festivities, the VSA advisor expressed her gratitude for both the dedication of the volunteers and enthusiasm of the guests. She also invited everyone to join her in celebrating another successful Moon Festival at Pad Thai after the show.
“I’d like to thank the audience for coming out and embracing our culture,” said Nguyen. “You all are the reason these students do what they do.”
