Traditional music and dance, Chinese delicacies, craft activities and a market welcomed visitors to the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival in Debrecen on Saturday, 26 September. The event was organised on Batthyány Street by the Confucius Institute of the University of Debrecen’s Faculty of Humanities. The celebrations ended with a Chinese disco, while visitors could also taste mooncakes, the traditional pastry associated with the festival.
The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Reunion Festival, has a history spanning thousands of years. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. Families traditionally gather on this occasion to enjoy the moonlight together and express their hopes and wishes for a better life.
“Debrecen has become a meeting point for the world, with a vibrant cultural mix filling the city and creating opportunities to learn about different cultures. Tonight, in the historic city centre, China is introducing itself through its cuisine, dances, traditional clothing and music. We may think we already know a lot about China, but believe me, Chinese culture always has surprises and fascinating things left to discover. The performers at the Mid-Autumn Festival offer us a glimpse of all this,” said István Puskás, Deputy Mayor of Debrecen for Cultural Affairs, at the opening ceremony.
Around 8,000 students from nearly 140 countries currently study at the University of Debrecen, including around 500 Chinese students.
“Meanwhile, Hungarian students can learn, among other languages, Japanese, Italian, Dutch, Polish, German, English, French and, thanks to the Confucius Institute, Chinese. Learning a language also means gaining an insight into the culture associated with it. At the same time, international students have the opportunity to introduce their home countries’ traditions and cuisine to their fellow students and local residents. This also demonstrates that languages and culture are an inseparable bond that brings people together,” said Andrea Horváth, Rector’s Commissioner of the University of Debrecen, in her speech.
Hungarian and Chinese students and lecturers from the university also played an active role in organising the all-day programme, with many taking part in the performances on stage.
The Dancing Fairies, a dance group formed three years ago by Hungarian and international students of the Confucius Institute, once again proved popular. Their performance drew people browsing the market on Batthyány Street, which was decorated with lanterns for the occasion, towards the stage.
One of the highlights of the festival was a fashion show featuring traditional Chinese clothing and costumes.
Of course, no Mid-Autumn Festival would be complete without its signature treat, the mooncake, which visitors could sample thanks to the Confucius Institute of the University of Debrecen’s Faculty of Humanities, the Debrecen Creative Community and Debrecen OTT-HOME International Meeting Point.
Representing the institute, Director Cui Xianjun and Deputy Director László Erik Kovács welcomed the performers and audience. They also noted with delight that even the full moon was not hidden behind clouds in honour of the Mid-Autumn Festival and its traditional mooncakes.
The programme concluded with a lively Chinese disco on the Batthyány Street stage, with DJ Maci performing under his familiar Panda Maci name for the occasion.
(unideb.hu)
