Debrecen4U
September 28, 2026
Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival Held in Debrecen for Seventh Time
The first full moon of autumn was welcomed with lights at the city’s oldest pedestrian street over the weekend. The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival was held in the city for the seventh time, with Chinese companies operating in Debrecen once again joining local residents for the celebrations.
The event also provided an opportunity for Chinese companies operating in Debrecen to showcase themselves, with CATL offering several interactive activities at its stand. “CATL is not present in Debrecen merely as an investor, and we do not simply want to establish a factory here. It is important to us to be part of the local community and culture as well. We took part in the Mid-Autumn Festival last year, and also joined the Lantern Festival in the spring,” said Liang Qui, Chief Operating Officer of CATL Debrecen.
Lanterns remained an essential part of the celebrations, as did Chinese songs and dances. Employees of Chinese companies and students from the Confucius Institute at the University of Debrecen also performed on stage. “When I started university, a traditional Chinese dance course had just been launched as part of the physical education programme. I was fascinated by the diversity of Chinese culture, which is why I have continued to take an interest in it ever since,” Petra Pósán explained.
In his welcoming speech, Deputy Mayor István Puskás said that the Mid-Autumn Festival was now held in Debrecen for the seventh time, which he said demonstrated that the people of Debrecen are open to Chinese culture. “Many elements of Asian cultures have been part of our everyday lives for decades, from gastronomy to martial arts. Yet this is an immensely rich world in which there is always something new and unfamiliar to discover,” István Puskás emphasised.
According to the Chinese calendar, the Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, when the Moon is at its roundest and brightest. The round Moon symbolises completeness and togetherness. “The Mid-Autumn Festival has its roots in ancient farming traditions, which also provide the framework for traditional Chinese festivals. In a rapidly and incredibly turbulently changing world, this festival represents a point of stability,” highlighted László Erik Kovács, Deputy Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Debrecen.
Those attending the celebrations could also sample traditional mooncakes, which symbolise the autumn full moon, while the lanterns illuminated Batthyány Street and added to the festive atmosphere.
Source: dehir.hu | Photo credit: Pixabay
