VIENTIANE, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- When the Mid-Autumn Festival is mentioned, mooncakes are often among the first things that come to Lao people's minds. With their sweet, dense and rich flavor, mooncakes offer Lao people a simple yet memorable way to experience Chinese culture through taste.
Kham, a 32-year-old resident of the Lao capital Vientiane, told Xinhua on Friday that although she is neither Chinese nor of Chinese descent, she buys mooncakes every year ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival, often giving them to elders or guests invited to dinner gatherings. For Kham, the festival is closely associated with the taste of mooncakes and the time spent with people close to her.
"Every year I host a small party for my friends and family to gather and have dinner together. After dinner, we eat mooncakes together. So when I think of the festival, the taste of mooncakes shared with the people closest to me always comes to mind first," she said.
For Kham, the mooncake has become more than a seasonal delicacy. Its taste is tied to memories of gathering with family and friends, giving her a personal connection to a Chinese festival despite not having a Chinese background.
Phonethida, a Lao vendor selling mooncakes, said the pastries appeal to customers not only for their taste but also for their distinctive and elegant packaging, which makes them suitable as gifts.
"When the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches, more Lao customers come to buy mooncakes. Some buy them for their families, while others buy them as gifts. I believe many Lao people are already familiar with mooncakes and have tasted them before," she said.
"Even when it is not the festival, some customers still ask for mooncakes. They tell us that they like the taste and want to eat them, especially with tea," Phonethida said.
The popularity of mooncakes among Lao people reflects how a traditional Chinese festival food has become familiar to some in their everyday lives, offering a simple way for people to encounter and exchange culture through taste.
Beyond the taste of mooncakes, the Mid-Autumn Festival also offers Lao people another way to encounter Chinese culture through learning and cultural experiences. For Lao students studying Chinese, traditional festivals provide opportunities to participate in activities that help them gain a deeper understanding of China and its culture beyond what they learn in the classroom.
Xayadeth, a 17-year-old student taking a Chinese language course, said he looks forward to Chinese festivals because they allow him to experience Chinese culture firsthand while learning new words and expressions related to each celebration.
He said his Chinese language institute organizes special activities for students during different Chinese festivals, giving them opportunities to learn about a wider range of Chinese traditions.
"I like learning through activities during festivals because they help us understand more about China and its culture. There are things that we cannot fully imagine just by reading books or studying in the classroom," he said.
The Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, falls on Sept. 25 this year. ■
