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Mid-Autumn Full Moon Festival Prayer on the Fifteenth of the Eighth Lunar Month: Ancestral Reunion Offering of Baked & Sticky-Rice Mooncakes and Outdoor Moon Viewing

Eighth-Month Reunion Festival · Round Heaven & Square Earth Mooncake Philosophy · Autumn Five-Fruit Platter · 3D Altar & A4 Scroll

Three complete liturgical scrolls for the Full Moon of the Eighth Lunar Month (Wednesday, September 15, 2027, Dinh Dau Day, Establish Officer): presenting square baked mooncakes (banh nuong), round white sticky-rice mooncakes (banh deo), lotus-wrapped green rice flakes (com vong), autumn pomelo and lotus tea to honor the Household Deities and Nine Generations of Forebears, alongside the evening outdoor Moon-Viewing rite.

Occasion
15th Day of the 8th Lunar Month Annually
Dinh Mui Year: Wed, Sep 15, 2027 (Dinh Dau Day, Establish Officer)
Auspicious timing
Si, Wu, Wei, You (Ancestral Rite) · Xu (Moon Viewing)
Indoor ancestral rite by day/afternoon; outdoor moon viewing 19:00-21:00
Altar setting
Indoor Ancestral Altar & Outdoor Moon-Viewing Table
Present square baked mooncakes, round sticky-rice mooncakes & autumn fruits
Variants & A4 scroll
3 variants · A4 Scroll
Indoor Ancestral Reunion scroll, Outdoor Moon-Viewing scroll & concise edition

IPersonalize Your Scroll, Select Ritual Date and Read Prayer

Tradition-Specific Sub-page of Ancestor Veneration (52 ritual prayers in this tradition)
All 81 Rites ›

1. Select Solar Date (Auto-converts to Lunar Date, Sexagenary Cycle & Auspicious Hours)

Pick the actual solar date on which your household performs the rite

2. Officiant and Household Details (Live Scroll Personalization)

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Enter solar birth year to auto-calculate Sexagenary stem-branch and lunar age

3. Choose Prayer Variant, Enter Altar Mode or Print A4 Scroll

Recited before the indoor Household Deity and Ancestral Altar during the daytime or late afternoon on the Fifteenth of the Eighth Lunar Month: offering square baked mooncakes, round sticky-rice mooncakes, lotus-wrapped green rice flakes, the autumn five-fruit platter, lotus tea and the family reunion meal.

HALL OF MYRIAD PATHS · TRADITIONAL RITUAL SCROLL

Mid-Autumn Full Moon Festival Prayer on the Fifteenth of the Eighth Lunar Month: Ancestral Reunion Offering of Baked & Sticky-Rice Mooncakes and Outdoor Moon Viewing

1. Indoor Household Deities & Ancestors Mid-Autumn Reunion Scroll (Classical Standard)

Namo Amitabha Buddha! (Three recitations, accompanied by three reverent bows)

Humbly bowing before the Nine Directions of Heaven, the Ten Directions of all Buddhas, and all Buddhas throughout the Ten Directions. Humbly bowing before Sovereign Heaven, Empress Earth and all Venerable Deities.

Humbly bowing before the Reigning Year Commissioner and Grand Duke Jupiter Spirit governing the ………… Year: ………….

Humbly bowing before the Local Tutelary Guardian Deities, the Local Earth Deity of Righteous Blessing, the Kitchen Deity of the Eastern Hearth, and the Deities of the Five Directions, Five Lands, Dragon Veins and Wealth governing this domain.

Humbly bowing before the Nine Generations and Seven Grades of Ancestors, Great-Great-Grandparents, Great-Grandparents, Grandparents, Beloved Parents, Uncles, Aunts, Brothers, Sisters, the Sacred Clan Aunt, the Young Departed Uncle, and all paternal and maternal spirits of ………….

Today is ……………………, celebrating the Mid-Autumn Full Moon Festival on the Fifteenth Day of the Eighth Lunar Month in the ………… Year.

………… ………………………………, currently residing at: ………….

In the heart of autumn beneath clear skies and gentle breezes, the full harvest moon of the eighth month shines in complete perfection over every home. Remembering the grace of Heaven and Earth for granting favorable weather and bountiful crops, and honoring the deep merits of our Forebears of ………… who nurtured the roots of our family so that descendants today may gather in warmth, our household ………… has sincerely prepared fragrant incense, candles, lotus tea, betel and areca, an autumn five-fruit platter, square baked mooncakes, round sticky-rice mooncakes, young green rice flakes and a warm reunion meal before the altar.

………… earnestly invite the Venerable Household Deities to descend before this altar, witness our sincerity, accept these offerings, and shelter our residence at ………… in peace and abundant blessing across all four seasons.

………… respectfully invite all paternal and maternal Ancestral Spirits of ………… on this Eighth-Month Reunion Festival to return to our family home, reunite with your descendants, witness our filial hearts, and enjoy the traditional flavors of autumn.

We humbly pray that the Venerable Deities and the Forebears of ………… bless and protect our entire household: may our grandparents and parents enjoy vibrant health and serene longevity; may husband and wife remain united in harmony with steady, prosperous careers; may the children and youths of our family grow healthy, virtuous, and bright in their new school year like the luminous eighth-month full moon; and may our household dwell in harmony and auspicious peace.

With modest offerings and heartfelt reverence, ………… bow before the sacred altar!

Namo Amitabha Buddha! (Three recitations, accompanied by three reverent bows)

IICeremonial Offerings and Preparation Checklist

The offering table for the Mid-Autumn Full Moon Festival (Festival of Reunion & Children's Festival) gathers the most refined flavors of Vietnamese autumn. The centerpiece of the Eighth Full Moon altar is the matched pair of square Baked Mooncakes (Banh Nuong) and round white Sticky-Rice Mooncakes (Banh Deo) embodying the classical cosmology of Round Heaven and Square Earth, placed side by side with emerald green rice flakes wrapped in lotus leaves (Com Vong), warm lotus-scented tea, and an autumn Five-Fruit Platter (pomelo, red persimmon, custard apple, pomegranate and spotted bananas).

Prepared 0 of 10 items

Group 1: Signature Mid-Autumn Offerings (Square Baked Mooncakes, Round Sticky-Rice Mooncakes, Green Rice & Autumn Fruits)

Group 2: Fragrant Incense, Altar Lamps, Autumn Golden Chrysanthemums & Lotus Tea

Group 3: Mid-Autumn Family Reunion Meal (Optional) & Printed A4 Scroll

Offering Photograph Credits (Wikimedia Commons · Open Licenses): 1. Matched pair of traditional Mooncakes: Square Baked Mooncake (Banh Nuong) & Round White Sticky-Rice Mooncake: Phuong Huy (Public domain · Source) · 2. Plate of lotus-wrapped green rice flakes (Com Vong), green-rice sticky rice & lotus-longan sweet soup: Phuong Huy (CC0 · Source) · 3. Autumn Five-Fruit Platter: Golden pomelo, red persimmons, custard apples, ruby pomegranates & spotted bananas: Rachel41Ng (CC0 · Source) · 4. Natural agarwood or herbal incense sticks: Trantuanviet (CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source) · 5. Pair of altar lamps or red candles on the sanctuary, plus star and carp lanterns: Aliva Sahoo (CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source) · 6. Vase of fresh autumn golden chrysanthemums, pink lotus or white tuberoses: Phuong Huy (CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source) · 7. Pot of freshly steeped warm lotus or jasmine tea & 3 or 5 pure water cups: Phuong Huy (Public domain · Source) · 8. Plate of fresh betel leaves and areca nuts: Phuong Huy (CC0 · Source) · 9. Warm Family Reunion Feast: Boiled chicken with lime leaves, lotus-seed mushroom soup & spring rolls: Baoothersks (CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source) · 10. Printed A4 Mid-Autumn Festival Scroll: Phuong Huy (CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source)

IIIInteractive 3D Altar, Layout Diagram and Ritual Protocol

Drag to rotate 360° · Click numbered pins 1 to 7 or cards below to inspect each offering
Rendering crimson-and-gold 3D ritual altar…
Altar arrangement for the Mid-Autumn Full Moon Festival: Follow the classical East-Vase West-Fruit rule (vase of golden autumn chrysanthemums on the right from the officiant's view, autumn five-fruit platter of pomelo, red persimmons, custard apples, pomegranates and bananas on the left). Directly in front of the water and warm lotus-tea cups, place a clean porcelain plate holding the unwrapped pair of square Baked Mooncakes and round Sticky-Rice Mooncakes alongside lotus-wrapped green rice flakes and lotus sweet soup. If holding an evening Moon-Viewing rite (19:00-21:00), set a separate clean table in the open courtyard or balcony facing the rising moon.
1
Central Sanctuary, Nine-Generation Ancestral Tablet & Printed A4 Mid-Autumn ScrollAnchored at the rear center of the upper altar; rest the printed A4 Reunion scroll on the reading stand.
2
Pair of Taiji Altar Lamps or Bronze Candlesticks (Left & Right)Kindled at both rear corners of the altar, echoing the warm glow of the harvest moon.
3
Central Deity & Ancestral Incense Bowl (Light 3 or 5 Agarwood Sticks)Spiritual axis uniting prayers for family reunion, elder longevity and children's wisdom.
4
Vase of Autumn Golden Chrysanthemums or Fresh Lotus (East Vase, Officiant Right)Positioned on the right side from the officiant's view, radiating refined autumn grace.
5
Autumn Five-Fruit Platter: Pomelo, Persimmon, Custard Apple, Pomegranate & Bananas (West Fruit, Left)Positioned on the left side from the officiant's view, showcasing the peak harvest of autumn orchards.
6
Row of 3 or 5 Pure Water Cups, Hot Lotus Tea & Fresh Betel-Areca PlateAligned neatly in front of the incense bowl inviting the Deities and Forebears to savor autumn tea.
7
Unwrapped Square Baked & Round Sticky-Rice Mooncakes, Green Rice Flakes & Reunion MealPlaced at the center of the front offering table: the paired square and round mooncakes embody Round Heaven and Square Earth.

Real-world reference photographs of traditional altars and offering trays

Open-license documentary photographs via Wikimedia Commons (click any photo for source file)
Festive Vietnamese Five-Fruit Tray (Mam Ngu Qua). Traditional Lunar New Year fruit arrangement combining a green banana hand cradling golden pomelos, fragrant Buddha’s-hand citron and red watermelons inscribed in Vietnamese script.
Festive Vietnamese Five-Fruit Tray (Mam Ngu Qua). Traditional Lunar New Year fruit arrangement combining a green banana hand cradling golden pomelos, fragrant Buddha’s-hand citron and red watermelons inscribed in Vietnamese script.
Photograph: Rachel41Ng · License: CC0 · Source: Wikimedia Commons
Red gac sticky rice, lotus-seed mung-bean sweet soup and banh chung. Auspicious sweet offering tray with crimson gac sticky rice, whipped mung-bean sweet soup topped with lotus seeds, a pair of green banh chung cakes, oil lamp and yellow chrysanthemums.
Red gac sticky rice, lotus-seed mung-bean sweet soup and banh chung. Auspicious sweet offering tray with crimson gac sticky rice, whipped mung-bean sweet soup topped with lotus seeds, a pair of green banh chung cakes, oil lamp and yellow chrysanthemums.
Photograph: Phuong Huy · License: CC0 · Source: Wikimedia Commons

Step-by-step ceremonial sequence before the altar

To celebrate the Mid-Autumn Full Moon with both solemn reverence at the ancestral altar and joyful warmth for children beneath the moonlight, follow these seven steps:

  1. Step 1
    Wipe the Ancestral Altar clean and prepare fresh autumn fruits

    Cleanse the altar surface, refresh the water in the golden chrysanthemum vase, and wash and dry the autumn fruits (pomelo, red persimmons, custard apples, pomegranates and bananas) for the five-fruit platter.

  2. Step 2
    Remove plastic wrappers from the Baked & Sticky-Rice Mooncakes and steep hot lotus tea

    Unwrap the outer plastic pouches and moisture-absorber packets from the square baked and round sticky-rice mooncakes, arranging them on a clean porcelain plate (whole or neatly sliced) beside the lotus-wrapped green rice flakes.

  3. Step 3
    Rite One (Daytime or Late Afternoon): Indoor Household Deities & Ancestors Offering

    During an auspicious daytime or afternoon window on the 15th Lunar Day (Si, Wu, Wei or You Hour), place the mooncake tray and reunion meal on the indoor altar, light 3 or 5 incense sticks, and recite Variant 1 (or Variant 3).

  4. Step 4
    Wait until two-thirds of the incense burns down, burn the scroll and share the Reunion Dinner

    Once two-thirds of the incense on the ancestral altar has burned, bow three times in gratitude, burn the A4 scroll cleanly, and lower the meal tray for the multi-generational family reunion dinner.

  5. Step 5
    Set up the outdoor Moon-Viewing table in the yard or balcony as the full moon rises (19:00-20:30)

    In the evening, gather with the children to arrange fruits, mooncakes, green rice flakes, a sculpted pomelo-pulp puppy, and lit star and carp lanterns on a clean table outdoors or beside a bright window facing the moon.

  6. Step 6
    Rite Two (Evening): Light incense and recite Variant 2 (Outdoor Moon-Viewing Scroll)

    Light 3 sticks of fragrant incense at the Moon-Viewing table and recite Variant 2 to thank Heaven, Earth and the Lunar Deity while praying for the children's wisdom and health.

  7. Step 7
    Carry lanterns and break the Mid-Autumn feast (Pha Co Trung Thu) beneath the moonlight

    Once the incense finishes burning, parade lanterns with the children, slice the baked and sticky-rice mooncakes, peel the autumn pomelo, sip warm lotus tea and share folk stories under the harvest moon.

IVOrigins & Meaning of the Mid-Autumn Full Moon: From Agricultural Moon Thanksgiving to the Festival of Reunion & Children

In the traditional calendar of Vietnam's wet-rice civilization, the Mid-Autumn Festival (Tet Trung Thu, held on the Full Moon of the Eighth Lunar Month) stands as one of the four great seasonal festivals of the year alongside Lunar New Year, the Cold Food Festival and the Mid-Year Solstice Festival. The name Trung Thu literally means the exact midpoint of autumn. Whereas the Fifth-Month Solstice marks the fiery zenith of summer Yang Qi at high noon, the night of the Eighth Full Moon represents the moment when cooling Yin harmony reaches its clearest, most serene perfection across all twelve months.

For ancient farming communities, the eighth lunar month arrived just as the late-summer rains subsided, leaving the autumn sky deep azure and cloudless while the main-season rice crop swelled with milky grain and orchard fruits ripened sweet. Our ancestors gazed up at the spotless eighth-month full moon to read weather omens for upcoming harvests (as preserved in the folk proverb: If you wish to eat fifth-month rice, watch the full moon of the eighth month; a halo around the moon brings drought, a diffused corona brings rain), while offering fragrant flowers and fruit in thanksgiving to Heaven, Earth, the God of Agriculture and the Lunar Deity.

According to the tradition

Rising above its agricultural roots, the unblemished roundness of the autumn harvest moon became the supreme cultural emblem of family togetherness (Tet Doan Vien, the Festival of Reunion) and cherishing the younger generation (Tet Thieu Nhi, the Children's Festival). On the evening of the Eighth Full Moon, sons and daughters working far away return home to light incense before the [HO_GIA_TIEN] ancestral altar, pour warm lotus tea wishing longevity to grandparents and parents, and light five-pointed star lanterns and carp lanterns with their children to inspire scholarly diligence at the start of the new school year.

VThe Philosophy of Round Heaven & Square Earth in Baked Mooncakes, Sticky-Rice Mooncakes and the Autumn Five-Fruit Platter

The offerings arranged on a Vietnamese ancestral altar on the Fifteenth of the Eighth Lunar Month encode a refined Yin-Yang and Five-Element cosmology, expressed most vividly through the matched pair of traditional mooncakes and the autumn five-fruit platter:

Symbolic meaning of the core offerings on the Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival altar.
Mid-Autumn OfferingForm & Flavor ProfileCosmological Philosophy & Family Blessing
Baked Mooncake (Banh Nuong, Square)Golden-brown baked crust pressed into a firm four-cornered square mold, filled with mixed nuts or mung bean and salted yolk.Symbolizes Square Earth (Dia Phuong), stable, warm and enduring, anchoring the family foundation through every season.
Sticky-Rice Mooncake (Banh Deo, Round)Crafted from pure white roasted glutinous rice flour scented with pomelo blossom, pressed into a full circle.Symbolizes Round Heaven (Thien Vien) and the luminous harvest moon, praying for complete, harmonious family affection.
Green Rice Flakes (Com Vong) & Lotus TeaEmerald young glutinous rice flakes wrapped in lotus leaves, served with hot West Lake lotus tea.Captures the pure essence of early-autumn rice fields, expressing gratitude to our agricultural roots and Forebears.
Autumn Five-Fruit Platter (Pomelo, Persimmon, Custard Apple, Pomegranate, Bananas)Upward-curving bananas cradling a round pomelo, red persimmons, ruby pomegranates and wide-eyed custard apples.Prays for abundant fortune (pomelo), flourishing luck (persimmon), united offspring (pomegranate) and bright academic wisdom (custard apple).

VISequence of the Indoor Ancestral Rite & Outdoor Moon-Viewing Ceremony in Dinh Mui (September 15, 2027)

According to the historical record

In the perpetual calendar for the Dinh Mui Year 2027, the official Full Moon of the Eighth Lunar Month (15/8) falls on Wednesday, September 15, 2027. In the Sexagenary cycle, this is a Dinh Dau Day (Foot-of-Mountain Fire Element) in the Ky Dau Month of the Dinh Mui Year, governed by the Establish Officer (Truc Kien), a highly auspicious calendrical officer for ancestral thanksgiving and initiating children's educational endeavors.

On Wednesday, September 15, 2027, householders distinguish two ritual windows: (1) The Indoor Household Deities & Ancestors Offering (reciting Variant 1 or Variant 3) should be performed during the daytime or late afternoon in Auspicious Hours: Si Hour (09:00 to 11:00, Jade Hall Auspicious Hour), Wu Hour (11:00 to 13:00), Wei Hour (13:00 to 15:00) or You Hour (17:00 to 19:00, Life-Guardian Auspicious Hour) prior to the family Reunion Dinner. (2) The Outdoor Moon-Viewing Offering (reciting Variant 2) is held during the Xu Hour (19:00 to 21:00) once the full harvest moon has risen high and bright. Working families busy mid-week may hold their main ancestral reunion dinner earlier on Sunday, September 12, 2027 (12th Lunar Day, Giap Ngo Day) or Tuesday, September 14, 2027 (14th Lunar Day, Binh Than Day).

VIIThe Art of the Traditional Mid-Autumn Tray and the Educational Philosophy of Star & Carp Lanterns

In traditional Vietnamese homes, preparing the Mid-Autumn tray is a hands-on cultural lesson where grandparents and parents pass down artistry and gratitude to young children: the family gathers to peel pomelo segments into a fluffy pomelo-pulp puppy (Cho Buoi) with shiny black longan-seed eyes, carve rose blossoms from red persimmon skin, and pair emerald green rice flakes with ripe spotted bananas.

According to the tradition

Beside the fruit platter stand handmade cellophane lanterns rich in educational philosophy: the Five-Pointed Star Lantern (Den Ong Sao) in five translucent colors represents the harmonious generation of the Five Elements (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth) and the Five Cardinal Virtues (Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom, Trustworthiness); the Carp Lantern (Den Ca Chep) recalls the legend of the Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate (Ca Chep Vuot Vu Mon Hoa Rong), inspiring students to persevere through rigorous examinations; and the Paper Doctoral Scholar (Tien Si Giay) placed atop the tray embodies the family's prayer for upright scholarship and honorable achievement.

VIIIFive Essential Etiquette Notes to Preserve Authentic Reunion Warmth on the Eighth Full Moon

A common misunderstanding

Five essential notes to ensure a warm, authentic Mid-Autumn Full Moon celebration:

First, remove plastic wrappers and oxygen-absorber packets before placing mooncakes on the altar. Unwrap at least the central pair of square baked and round sticky-rice mooncakes (or slice them neatly onto a clean porcelain dish) so their aroma blends with hot lotus tea before the Ancestors.

Second, prioritize fresh, traditional offerings in moderate quantities over extravagant commercial packaging. The heart of the Reunion Festival lies in multi-generational warmth around the family table rather than luxury display.

Third, refrain from burning votive paper money on Mid-Autumn night. The Eighth Full Moon is a pure festival of moonlight, harvest thanksgiving and children's joy; avoiding paper-burning keeps the autumn air clear and safe.

Fourth, set aside mobile phones and work emails during the evening Moon-Viewing feast. Dedicate the full moon evening wholly to conversing with grandparents, parents and children while sharing mooncakes and lotus tea.

Fifth, adapt the Moon-Viewing space gracefully if autumn rain falls or in high-rise apartments. Simply arrange the Moon-Viewing table beside a bright living-room window, light a warm star lantern and recite Variant 2; the truest full moon is the smiling reunion of loved ones beneath a peaceful roof.

?Quick Questions

Should the Mid-Autumn Festival offering be performed indoors at the ancestral altar or outdoors in the courtyard, and at what time?

In authentic Vietnamese tradition, families may observe both rites or focus on the main indoor ancestral rite: (1) The Indoor Household Deities & Ancestors Offering is performed at the main indoor altar during the daytime or late afternoon (Si Hour 09:00-11:00, Wu Hour 11:00-13:00, Wei Hour 13:00-15:00, or You Hour 17:00-19:00 on Wednesday, September 15, 2027) using Variant 1; (2) The Outdoor Moon-Viewing Offering is set up in the courtyard, veranda or balcony in the evening from 19:00 to 21:00 once the full moon rises high, reciting Variant 2 before breaking the feast with the children.

Should we remove the box and plastic wrapper before placing mooncakes on the Ancestral Altar?

Yes, always remove the airtight plastic pouch and moisture-absorber packet. Following the classical principle of serving the departed as one serves the living, take the square baked mooncake and round sticky-rice mooncake out of their plastic trays and place them on a clean porcelain plate (whole or neatly sliced) beside a pot of hot lotus tea.

Is a cooked meat banquet mandatory for the Mid-Autumn Full Moon offering?

No, it is optional. The essential offerings of the Mid-Autumn Festival are fragrant incense, golden chrysanthemums, warm lotus tea, the autumn five-fruit platter (pomelo, persimmon, custard apple, pomegranate, bananas), and the matched pair of square baked and round sticky-rice mooncakes with green rice flakes. Families gathering for a holiday lunch or dinner on the 15th Lunar Day may additionally offer a warm savory or vegetarian meal.

Why does a traditional Vietnamese Mid-Autumn altar always pair a square Baked Mooncake with a round Sticky-Rice Mooncake?

Pairing the square Baked Mooncake (Banh Nuong) with the round white Sticky-Rice Mooncake (Banh Deo) embodies the classical philosophy of Round Heaven and Square Earth (Thien Vien Dia Phuong) and Yin-Yang harmony: the golden-brown square cake represents solid, nurturing Mother Earth, while the pure white circular cake represents luminous Heaven and the full harvest moon, praying that the household remains both firmly grounded and wholly united.

If our family is busy working on Wednesday, September 15, 2027 (the 15th of the 8th Lunar Month), can we hold the Mid-Autumn offering early?

Yes, completely. Families may hold their main Reunion Dinner and ancestral offering early on Sunday, September 12, 2027 (12th of the 8th Month) or the afternoon of Tuesday, September 14, 2027 (14th of the 8th Month). Then, on the evening of Wednesday, September 15, 2027 after returning from work, simply light incense with a plate of mooncakes and hot lotus tea, and enjoy the full moon with your children.

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Compiled, textually collated and diagrammed by Master Ưng Khiêm and UK MASTER ACADEMY. Last updated: 31 October 2026. Sources: Collated from Classical Vietnamese Liturgical Manuals, Tho Mai Gia Le, Viet Nam Phong Tuc (Phan Ke Binh), traditional Mid-Autumn cultural records, and UK Master Academy household ritual standards.