‘Exclusive’ Why Do People in Cambodia Celebrate Moon Festival?

An evening before Moon Festival at a well-known bakery in Cambodia

Phnom Penh- On September every year which is on the 15^th day of the 8^th month of the lunar calendar with full moon at night, many people in Cambodia especially in Phnom Penh celebrate one of the most well-known Chinese festival called “Moon Festival” or “Mid-Autumn Festival” by buying moon cakes to do moon worship.

Actually it is not a public holiday in Cambodia, but too many Cambodian people who are inherent in Chinese families, always celebrate and enjoy with the festival because they consider it as a special occasion to gather around with all their relatives. Besides doing the moon worship, they share moon cake to friends and relatives and eat and enjoy by watching the moon together.

Why do Cambodian people also celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival?

How Cambodian people do moon worship

First of all, there are some Chinese people who live in Cambodia for such a long time, that’s why we can see too many Cambodian people are inherent in Chinese families.

Moreover, there are Vietnamese and Chinese communities in Cambodia, that’s why we can see many people especially in Phnom Penh always gather around during Chinese Festivals such as Chinese’ New year, Qingming Festival, and also Moon Festival.

One more thing, too many people believe that after doing the moon worship, the moon will bring luck and happiness to them and their closely people.

Sovanny, a woman in her fifties told Camsocial, “Actually I can say that my family is half Chinese and half Cambodian. And I can know that, we have celebrated the Moon Festival, since my great grandfather generation, so it considered as a ritual for my family. During this time, we (my family and relatives) gather around together and enjoy the time by eating moon cakes, drinking tea, and having funny chats. It is such a special festival for us”.

What are Cambodian people doing during the Moon Festival?

Firstly, people go to buy moon cakes from the Bakery, then they choose some accessories and lanterns for decorating during the moon worship. After that, they eat moon cakes and drink tea with their lovely people such as friends, family, and relatives under the moon and enjoy this precious time altogether.

At night we can see many kids walk along the street with their hand holding lanterns and enjoy with their group, which can be the beautiful and funny scenes during the Moon Festival.

Besides that, presenting Moon cakes as a gift to closely people, parents, bosses, and friends is common for Cambodian people, especially during September.

Some retail shoppings for selling moon cakes in Phnom Penh

Flavors of moon cakes for Cambodian people?

Yes, there are two most common flavors of moon cakes on the market, which are the most favorite for Cambodia people such as Five Kernel and Roast Pork moon cake, and Red Bean Paste moon cake. Anyway, nowadays there are many more flavors like seafood, green tea, and also chocolate.

Moon Festival is supposed to be a gathering occasion for family in order to share their happy feeling to each other.

Crowd of people came to buy moon cakes for celebrating Moon Festival