Greeting the Moon
A free Mid-Autumn Festival coloring page. US Letter, portrait, ready to print.
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From the story “Greeting the Moon” in Once Upon a Mid-Autumn Moon in Thailand — eleven bedtime tales for ages 4–10, each with a word search and a coloring page of its own.
Thank you before wishes
When the full moon of the Mooncake Festival rises, Nok's family sets a small table in the courtyard facing the sky. Nok is bursting with wishes: a kite, sweets, a day off school. Grandmother says thanks come first, for the moon, the harvest and the family together. Then Nok wishes only that they can all be here again next year.
In the picture a Thai-Chinese family bows, palms pressed, to the full moon at a courtyard table set with mooncakes, tea and a golden pomelo.
Wâi phrá jan, greeting the moon
Wâi phrá jan means greeting the moon. In Thailand the Mooncake Festival is kept above all by Thai-Chinese families, who set mooncakes, tea and a pomelo (sôm oh) on a table under the full moon, bow with a wâi, and only then make wishes. The story sums it up: "grateful first, and wishing after."
Wishes and thanks
- Nok wriggled, eager to wish. What helps you wait?
- What did Grandmother thank the moon for? What would your family add?
- Why do you think Nok's wish changed after he gave thanks?
Find the round shapes
The moon, the pomelo and the mooncakes are all round. Have the child find and color them first, golden for the pomelo, then add the family.