Cultures converge at Mid-Autumn Moon Festival in San Jose

"Considered the second biggest holiday in Chinese and Vietnamese cultures on the lunar calendar, the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival marks a time of harvest, reunion and celebration among Southeast Asian cultures. The San Jose event, one of nine cultural events hosted annual by the Children's Discovery Museum, highlighted where Chinese and Vietnamese cultures intersect. Hands-on activities included making lanterns and Playdough moon cakes, an outdoor art workshop and lion dance performances from Yun Yee Tong USA, a San Jose Chinese martial arts organization."

"The lion dance was the main attraction for many, and anticipation before the performance prompted a line that wrapped across the downstairs of the museum. During the performance, spectators watched a vibrant show with drums and acrobatics. Outside, artist Andy Nguyen introduced cyanotype artwork, a photographic process that creates a blue and white image from a mix of sun exposure and chemicals. Nguyen practices and teaches forms of the art, which honors his Vietnamese heritage."

The Mid-Autumn Moon Festival filled the Children's Discovery Museum in downtown San Jose with festive children's activities. Considered the second biggest holiday in Chinese and Vietnamese cultures on the lunar calendar, the festival marks a time of harvest, reunion and celebration. The museum event, one of nine annual cultural events, highlighted where Chinese and Vietnamese cultures intersect. Hands-on activities included making lanterns and Playdough moon cakes, an outdoor art workshop and lion dance performances from Yun Yee Tong USA, a San Jose Chinese martial arts organization. The lion dance drew long lines and featured vibrant drums and acrobatics. Outside, artist Andy Nguyen demonstrated cyanotype, a sun-exposure photographic process creating blue-and-white images honoring his Vietnamese heritage.

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