Happy Mid-Autumn Festival 2024!

On September 17, APSI gathered graduate students to celebrate the mid-autumn festival, known as “chuseok” in Korea and “otsukimi” in Japan. In Chinese culture, the day is also called the Moon Festival. Mooncakes are the most well-known food associated with this celebration, though there are wide regional variations in flavors. (See more information from the San Francisco Chinatown Merchants Association and the Hong Kong Tourism Board)

For Koreans, the three-day chuseok holiday is analogous to the American Thanksgiving. Traditionally, families travel to their hometown, gathering to celebrate the fall harvest and give thanks to their ancestors. The day includes a sumptuous feast, topped off with songpyeon, sesame and honey-filled rice cakes. (Additional information at the Asia Society and the Korea Society)

In Japan, otsukimi was originally observed by aristocrats who would play music and compose poetry at parties in the moonlight, though its popularity later spread to all social classes, including farmers who would use the occasion to give thanks for a good harvest. (Learn more from the Japan Rail Pass website)

Other campus organizations also held celebrations for students, including the Chinese Program at Duke University (via Facebook) and the Duke Singapore Students Association (on instagram).