Students shared a range of cultural foods at The Mid-Autumn Festival.
Last Friday in Susie’s, Andover students gathered under the soft glow of lanterns to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, hosted in collaboration with Asian Society, Andover’s Japanese Connection, Chinese Student Association, and Korean Society. The event invited students to enjoy cultural foods, games, and music while learning about the traditions that mark the harvest season across Asia.
The relaxed, playful atmosphere in Susie’s offered a chance for students to unwind and connect after the school week. Jane Hlavaty ’28 described the sense of warmth and welcoming she felt at the event.
“I found out about the Festival through the Weekender. But I haven’t really heard of the Lunar New Year Festival itself,” remarked Hlavaty. “Everyone was very welcoming, especially the board members serving us at the tables. We got some food and took some photos. That really made us feel included in the holiday.”
Beyond the games and food, the evening fostered conversation about connection and belonging. Bruce Ru ’28 reflected on how cultural events such as the Mid-Autumn Festival help bridge divides between students.
“The school stresses certain policies or priorities in order to get students to socialize, forcing people to stop using their phones and actually talking to people in person. But, there’s no better way to foster those kinds of organic connections than at a cultural event. It’s an environment where people [can] know that they either have something in common, or they are interested in learning about something that they may have in common,” said Ru.
The Festival also showcased Andover’s global diversity. The student body came together to share familiar traditions in an unfamiliar place. Chance Hernandez ’29 found meaning in the celebration’s communal spirit.
“[The Festival had] a lot of energy and excitement. People are having a good time. I am happy about the passion from the students that goes into this. I’m also happy that Andover allows community events like these. In Andover, diversity is important not just to the school, but to the students, and there’s a lot of vibrant and exuberant community members willing to create events like this to share their cultures, which I am really proud of,” said Hernandez.
For others, the event evoked personal memories of home. Woojin Oh ’29 connected the Korean celebration of Chuseok to the music and flavors at the event.
“In Korea, we call [the Mid-Autumn Festival] Chuseok. For me, it’s really welcoming to see some snacks from my country just being displayed at the Festival. Right now, Big Bang is playing over the speakers, which is a Korean K-pop boy band. It’s welcoming to hear songs from your country and eat foods from your country. In some ways, [the festival] reminded me of home. During Chuseok, I usually visit my grandma’s house all the way in Jeju. I have a lot of good memories. My grandma cooks me some baby squid stir fry. It’s kind of hard to describe, but it’s really good. It evoked memories from my childhood for me,” said Oh.
Tables across Susie’s were filled with regional specialties such as Mitarashi Dango, Mooncakes, and Yakgwa, each symbolizing reunion and gratitude. Sharing food held both cultural and emotional weight, a theme that Ru returned to as he reflected on the evening.
“Sharing [food] is very important to the union or familial aspect of the Mid-Autumn Festival. I also believe that there is a reason why people are so drawn to food as something to hold on to, even when we are in a foreign country. When you immigrate or go study in a different place, there’s not that many things unlike food that you can recreate or just bring to a new place that easily. It’s something that people would hang on to, even when they’re in an unfamiliar environment,” said Ru.
