-Every Year: Cambodian Festival of Prostrating the Moon (7/15)

More commonly called “Full Moon Festival” by locals (as Cambodia does not have an Autumn season). Cambodians organize “the traditional festival of prostrating the moon”. In that early morning, people start preparing sacrifices to worship the moon, including fresh flowers, cassava soup, flat rice, and sugar cane juice. At night, people put the sacrifices into a tray, place on a big mat, and sit at ease waiting for the moon. When the moon rises up over the top of a branch, everyone whole-heartedly worships the moon, implores blessings. After the ritual of worshipping the moon, the old take flat rice to put into the mouth of children until they are entirely full in order to spray for perfection, and good things. Although this is a Chinese festival, many Cambodians celebrate this festival as it is believed that exchanging moon cake during this time is thought to bring luck and prosperity. Among Cambodians, this holiday is associated with Khmer beliefs of “Praying to the Moon” and the Buddhist legend of the rabbit.