The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most important traditional celebrations in Vietnam. Do you know what the Mid-Autumn Festival is called in English? Or how to describe different types of mooncakes in English? In this article, IDP IELTS provides a full collection of Mid-Autumn Festival vocabulary in English, along with sample sentences and IELTS Speaking examples, so you can speak more fluently about this festival.
1. Common English Vocabulary on the Mid-Autumn Festival
Vocabulary Related to Symbols of the Festival
Vocabulary | Example Sentence |
Mid-Autumn Festival | My favorite part of the Mid-Autumn Festival is eating mooncakes |
Lunar Year | It is on the first day of the lunar year |
Lantern | A little lantern blinked in the darkness |
Star-shaped lantern | Did your dad make a star-shaped lantern for you yesterday |
Carp-shaped lantern | He made a carp-shaped lantern with a stick in its belly |
Revolving lantern | They may each carry a paper lantern symbolizing the star |
The Moon Man | The man in the moon winked at them three times |
Moon Fairy | The moon fairy arrived through an open window one summer night |
Moon Rabbit | The moon rabbit was often used in Chinese poetry |
Moon Palace | The moon goddess lives in the Moon Palace |
Lantern Light Festival | We joined a Lantern Light Festival when we visited Thailand |
Banyan Tree | The banyan tree has aerial roots |
Vocabulary for Traditional Foods and Mooncake Varieties
Vocabulary | Example Sentence |
Mooncake | A bite of mooncake completes the celebration |
Baked mooncake | Your baked mooncakes are beautifully golden |
Sticky rice mooncake | Sticky rice mooncakes are a holiday tradition |
Mixed-nut mooncake | My mom is a fan of mixed-nut mooncakes |
Mung bean mooncake | These are made from mung bean and glutinous rice flour |
Salted egg yolk mooncake | Opinions differ about the salted egg yolk mooncake |
Lotus seed paste mooncake | Enjoy the classic flavor of lotus seed paste mooncake |
Taro paste mooncake | Taro paste mooncakes are usually round or square |
Dried sausage | This dried sausage goes perfectly with tea |
Vocabulary for Mid-Autumn Festival Activities
Vocabulary |
Dragon dance |
Lion dance |
Lantern parade |
Family reunion |
Celebrate the harvest |
Savor a sip of tea |
Parade with lanterns |
Serve festival cake and fruit |
Watch the moon |
Share joys and sorrows |
2. Meaningful Mid-Autumn Festival Wishes in English
Sending greetings during the Mid-Autumn Festival is a meaningful way to express love and appreciation for family, friends, and colleagues. Here are some heartfelt wishes:
Wish you and your family a happy Mid-Autumn Festival
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! May the round moon bring you a happy family and a successful future
Wishing us a long life to san sẻ the graceful moonlight
The Mid-Autumn Day approaches. I wish your family happiness and blessings forever
Happy Mid-Autumn Day! Wish that you go well and have a successful and bright future
The roundest moon can be seen in the Autumn. It is time for reunions. I wish you a happy Mid-Autumn Day and a wonderful life
Wish you a perfect life just like the roundest moon in Mid-Autumn Day
A bright moon and stars twinkle and shine. Wishing you a merry Mid-Autumn Festival, bliss and happiness
I wish that your career and life, just like the round moon on Mid-Autumn Day, be bright and perfect.
3. Using Mid-Autumn Vocabulary in IELTS Speaking – Topic: Festivals
IELTS Speaking Part 1
Q: What is your favorite festival?
Besides the Lunar New Year, I really love the Mid-Autumn Festival. It is a traditional festive occasion when families gather. Children enjoy the lantern parade and feel the excitement on the streets.
Scoring Vocabulary:
Mid-Autumn Festival
Traditional festive occasion
Lantern parade
Q: What do people do to celebrate this holiday in your country?
There are many fun activities during the Mid-Autumn Festival. People make mooncakes and prepare fruit for family feasts. Streets are decorated with vibrant ornaments. Children wear colorful masks and join lantern parades with star and carp-shaped lanterns. Dragon and lion dancers also perform. Families reunite and take pictures to capture these happy moments.
Scoring Vocabulary:
Make mooncakes
Feasts
Vibrant ornaments
Colorful masks
Star and carp-shaped lanterns
Dragon and lion dancers
Reunite
IELTS Speaking Part 2
Cue Card: Describe an important festival in your country.
Sample Answer:
Apart from Tet, the Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most iconic celebrations in Vietnam. It takes place on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. This festival is also observed in countries like China, Japan, and Korea. On this day, the moon is believed to be at its roundest and brightest. The celebration includes moon watching, lantern processions, lion dances, and enjoying mooncakes and fruits.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is an opportunity for families to reunite and reflect on the year. It also marks the start of the new school year, so children receive good luck wishes from their loved ones.This festival is especially for children. Parents often help their kids make lanterns and prepare costumes for the lantern parade. They may also talk about Vietnamese culture and history. I love this festival because it brings me closer to my family and friends.
Scoring Vocabulary:
Iconic festivals
The moon is at its brightest
Moon watching
Lantern processions
Reunite and share stories
Lucky wishes
Make lanterns and costumes
Lantern parade
Learn Mid-Autumn Vocabulary with IDP
We hope this guide has helped you learn useful Mid-Autumn Festival vocabulary and understand the meaning of this traditional holiday more deeply. To prepare for a variety of IELTS Speaking topics, visit IDP’s free preparation resources for more exercises and practice materials across all four skills.
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