Last Sunday, in Thomas Paine Park near Worth St., the first ever Vietnamese Moon Festival in New York City had moms, dads and children enjoying arts and crafts, games and moon cakes. The little ones enjoyed the summer sun during sack and egg balancing races, while balloon animals and a lantern-making station offered the chance to get creative. The five-pointed, star-shaped lanterns are a traditional part of the event, which is also known as Children’s Festival because of its emphasis on young ones. Called Tet Trung Thu in Vietnamese, the festival even saw a traditional lantern procession, or ruoc den, led by a giant star lantern. The origin of the festival can be traced to the time when the Vietnamese believed that children, being innocent and pure, had the closest connection to the sacred and natural world and where therefore seen as a way to connect with animist spirits and deities. About 400 people flocked to the event, which was organized by the Vietnam Heritage Center.
