You work at the front desk of a *****hotel in Siem Reap. A guest approaches you and asks you what the Mid-Autumn Festival is about.
You provide some basic information.
The Moon Cake Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, is a special celebration in Cambodia, especially for the Chinese and Vietnamese communities. It usually happens in September or October, when the moon is full and bright. The festival is a time for family reunions and giving thanks for the harvest.
One of the most important parts of the festival is the mooncake. Mooncakes are round pastries filled with sweet or salty ingredients, such as lotus seed paste, red bean paste, or salted egg yolk. Families exchange mooncakes as gifts, and they are often shared during family gatherings.
During the festival, people set up altars to make offerings to the moon. These offerings include fruits, incense, and mooncakes. The full moon is a symbol of family unity and happiness.
Another tradition during the Moon Cake Festival is lighting lanterns. Children and families carry colorful lanterns shaped like animals or stars, which make the night even more beautiful.
In some places, there are also dragon and lion dances to celebrate. Even though it is not a national holiday in Cambodia, the Moon Cake Festival is a meaningful time for many families, especially in cities with large Chinese or Vietnamese communities.
################################
Some definitions in simple English
– **Pastry**: A type of food made from dough, often baked, and usually sweet or savory, like cakes, pies, or tarts.
– **Ingredient**: A part or item used to make food, like flour, sugar, or eggs.
– **Yolk**: The yellow part inside an egg.
– **Gift**: Something you give to someone to make them happy, like for a birthday or a holiday.
– **Gathering**: When people come together in a group, often for a celebration or event.
– **Incense**: A substance that you burn to make a nice smell, often used in ceremonies or prayers.
– **Lantern**: A light that is usually inside a case made of paper, glass, or metal, often carried around.
– **Shaped**: When something is made to look like a certain form or design, like a circle, star, or animal.
################################
Try to answer in full sentences
1. What is another name for the Moon Cake Festival?
2. When does the Moon Cake Festival usually take place?
3. Why is the full moon important during the festival?
4. What is a mooncake, and what are some common fillings?
5. What do families do with mooncakes during the festival?
6. What do people offer to the moon during the celebration?
7. What does the full moon symbolize during the festival?
8. What do children and families do with lanterns during the festival?
9. In which areas of Cambodia is the Moon Cake Festival celebrated most?
10. Why is the festival important for families?
################################
Here are 10 multiple-choice questions based on the Moon Cake Festival text, with more than one correct answer for some
1. **What is the Moon Cake Festival also called?**
– a) Lunar New Year
– b) Mid-Autumn Festival
– c) Harvest Festival
– d) Full Moon Festival
2. **When does the Moon Cake Festival usually take place?**
– a) December or January
– b) March or April
– c) September or October
– d) May or June
3. **What does the full moon symbolize during the festival?**
– a) Family unity
– b) Wealth and success
– c) Happiness
– d) Health
4. **Which of the following are common mooncake fillings?**
– a) Lotus seed paste
– b) Meat
– c) Red bean paste
– d) Salted egg yolk
5. **What are mooncakes typically used for during the festival?**
– a) Decorating homes
– b) Being shared with family
– c) Making offerings to the moon
– d) Exchanged as gifts
6. **What types of offerings are made to the moon during the festival?**
– a) Fruits
– b) Money
– c) Incense
– d) Mooncakes
7. **What do families and children do with lanterns during the festival?**
– a) Carry them around
– b) Light them up at night
– c) Float them in water
– d) Hang them in their homes
8. **In which cities of Cambodia is the Moon Cake Festival celebrated the most?**
– a) Phnom Penh
– b) Siem Reap
– c) Sihanoukville
– d) Cities with large Chinese and Vietnamese communities
9. **Which traditional performances may take place during the festival?**
– a) Dragon dances
– b) Ballet performances
– c) Lion dances
– d) Shadow puppetry
10. **Why is the Moon Cake Festival important for families?**
– a) It is a time for family reunions
– b) Families give thanks for the harvest
– c) It is a religious holiday
– d) Families celebrate health and happiness
################################
Which words are we looking for?
170924