Students share traditions at Mid-Autumn festival

Students enjoyed moon cakes and cultural performances at the Mid-Autumn Festival. Contributed photo

As the full moon rose, families gathered in their homes in East Asia to celebrate one of their culture’s most cherished traditions — the Mid-Autumn Festival. However, Troy University’s international students gathered in the Trojan Center ballrooms where mooncakes were served, and traditional Chinese dances were performed.

Speaker Yixuan (Leo) Wei, a graduate assistant from Troy’s international program, talked about the history and meaning behind the celebration.

“The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for moon worship, a practice that dates back to ancient times,” Wei said.

Wei also introduced the many performances by some of the international students from China. From traditional dragon and lion dances to a beautiful Guzheng performance, there was plenty of entertainment. Wei was also one of the performers, singing his own song in Chinese.

Adding a modern twist to the traditional festivities, a group of girls performed popular Korean pop (K-pop) songs, energizing the crowd with their dance moves and catchy tunes.

The excitement continued with a raffle at the end of the event, where attendees had the chance to win fun prizes such as traditional-style hand fans.

The evening concluded with a big conga line as attendees danced to a lively Chinese pop song. The joyful procession wound its way through the ballroom, with everyone joining in the fun and celebrating the spirit of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Not only was this an incredible opportunity for the international students, but also for Troy’s domestic students.

Nautica Morgan, a senior biomedical science student and the International Students Cultural Organization (ISCO) president talked about how she met someone who is now a close friend at a previous Mid- Autumn Festival at Troy.

“She was so nice and that was the first time I saw her,” Morgan said. “We became friends and even though she's back in China now, we still remain good friends”

Organizers said their goal was to have attendees leave the event with a deeper appreciation for the Mid-Autumn Festival and the cultural diversity that enriches the Troy community.

“We really hoped to bring a piece of home to our international students, as well as show the domestic students a huge part of our Chinese culture,” said Silvia Li, the director of Troy China Operations.