D-E’s Chinese Culture Club (CCC) and Korean Culture Club (KCC) hosted a joyful Chuseok and Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration earlier this week, in the Wharton Lessin Dining Hall. Mr. Lee ’17, Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging for the Upper School, explained that the two holidays are closely related and celebrate the harvest moon. “This is the first time we are doing a joint event!” he exclaimed. Chuseok, which was officially on Monday, October 6, is a Korean holiday during which one’s ancestors are honored, and the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival is a time to be grateful and involves getting together with family. Korean and Chinese Parent Affinity Group members were on hand to help students make their own mooncakes, a Chinese tradition, using crushed Oreos and a mold that imprints a decorative design with the Chinese symbol for “moon.” There was also a tea-painting competition, a calligraphy station, Chinese and Korean treats and drinks, and traditional Korean games. Another highlight was a beautiful musical performance by World Language Chair Mr. Hegedus, who played the Gu-zheng, an ancient Chinese zither. He said the song evoked “an autumn moon over a calm lake.” In the spirit of the season, we are super grateful to the parents, faculty, and staff who helped make this event such a success!
