The Mid-Autumn Children's Festival in the Washington Metropolitan was started in 1987. The festival provides a fun and safe environment for everyone to celebrate the Vietnamese heritage. It is a wonderful gathering where young people can learn about the Vietnamese culture in a festive and vibrant atmosphere. Thousands of children and their parents come to attend at this annual event. The festival
is one of the most participated annual events in the Washington DC Vietnamese community. The festival is supported by contributions from individuals and local businesses, as well as grants from private foundations and government agencies. A major part of the expense is spent on facilities and equipment. The Autumn Moon Festival tradition is thousands of years old and is celebrated in many East Asian countries such as Vietnam, China, and Korea. It is held on the 15th day of the 8th month in the lunar calendar. For the Vietnamese, in its most ancient form, the evening commemorated the dragon who brought rain for the crops. Celebrants would observe the moon to divine the future of the people and harvests. Eventually the celebration came to symbolize a reverence for fertility, with prayers given for bountiful harvests, increase in livestock, and babies. Over time, the prayers for children evolved into a celebration of children.
