What day is the Mid-Autumn Festival? Do employees get a day off on the Mid-Autumn Festival?
When is Mid-Autumn Festival?
The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. This year, the Mid-Autumn Festival in 2023 falls on Friday, September 29, 2023, of the Gregorian calendar.
However, people typically start festivities such as lantern parades and lion dances from the 14th day of the 8th lunar month (which is Thursday, September 28, 2023).
The Mid-Autumn Festival is also known as Children's Festival, Moon Festival, or Reunion Festival.
When is Mid-Autumn Festival? Do workers have the right to take leave on Mid-Autumn Festival? (Image from the internet)
How many days until the 2023 Mid-Autumn Festival?
As of today, September 18, 2023, in the Gregorian calendar, until the 2023 Mid-Autumn Festival on the 15th of the 8th lunar month (September 29, 2023, in the Gregorian calendar), there are 11 days remaining.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of Vietnam’s traditional festivals, recognized as the "Children's Festival." During this time, the streets are filled with lanterns, star lamps, drums, masks, lion masks, all of which are toys for children.
Additionally, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a family reunion, a traditional Vietnamese cultural event due to its origin and interesting significance. On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, people often buy cake, tea, and wine to offer to ancestors, give to grandparents, parents, teachers, friends, relatives, and other benefactors. It is a good opportunity for descendants to express gratitude to their forebears and for people to care for each other.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, children can hear the legend of Cuoi with the banyan tree. They excitedly engage in various full-moon activities, playing games such as lantern parades, lion dances, and receiving gifts and cakes. Nevertheless, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also a time for families to gather together, share love, and have happy moments together. Hence, the saying "Mid-Autumn is the Reunion Festival" is passed down among people.
Furthermore, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also an occasion for people to gaze at the moon and predict the upcoming crops and national destiny based on ancient beliefs. For instance, if the moon is round, bright, and yellow, that year will surely have a good silk harvest. If the moon is round, bright, and green (or blue), natural disasters may occur that year. Conversely, if the moon is round, bright, and orange, it signifies a prosperous country with happy and well-fed people that year.
Are workers entitled to leave on the Mid-Autumn Festival?
According to Article 112 of the Labor Code 2019 stipulating holiday leave:
Holidays and Tet
1. Employees are entitled to fully paid leave on the following holidays and Tet:
a) Gregorian New Year: 01 day (January 01 in the Gregorian calendar);
b) Lunar New Year: 05 days;
c) Victory Day: 01 day (April 30 in the Gregorian calendar);
d) International Labor Day: 01 day (May 01 in the Gregorian calendar);
e) National Day: 02 days (September 02 in the Gregorian calendar and 01 day immediately before or after);
f) Hung Kings Commemoration Day: 01 day (10th day of the 3rd lunar month).
2. Foreign workers working in Vietnam in addition to the holidays stipulated in Clause 1 of this Article are also entitled to an extra day of traditional Tet and their national day.
3. Annually, based on actual conditions, the Prime Minister of Vietnam shall decide specifically on the holidays stipulated at points b and e of Clause 1 of this Article.
Employees are entitled to fully paid leave on the following holidays and Tet:
- Gregorian New Year: 01 day (January 01 in the Gregorian calendar);- Lunar New Year: 05 days;- Victory Day: 01 day (April 30 in the Gregorian calendar);- International Labor Day: 01 day (May 01 in the Gregorian calendar);- National Day: 02 days (September 02 in the Gregorian calendar and 01 day immediately before or after);- Hung Kings Commemoration Day: 01 day (10th day of the 3rd lunar month).
Additionally, Article 111 of the Labor Code 2019 stipulates as follows:
Weekly Rest
1. Each week, employees are entitled to at least 24 consecutive hours of rest. In special cases where the work cycle does not allow weekly rest, the employer is responsible for ensuring that employees have an average monthly rest of at least 04 days.
2. The employer has the right to decide on the arrangement of weekly rest days on Sundays or specific days in the week but must record them in the labor regulations.
3. If the weekly rest day coincides with a holiday stipulated in Clause 1, Article 112 of this Code, employees are entitled to make up for it on the next working day.
Weekly rest days will be decided by the employer. Generally, weekly rest days are scheduled on Saturdays, Sundays, or only on Sundays.
Therefore, the Mid-Autumn Festival is not among the holidays in which employees are entitled to leave, and the Mid-Autumn Festival in 2023 also falls on a Friday. Thus, employees are not entitled to leave on the Mid-Autumn Festival, and employees with a work schedule will still need to work as usual.
LawNet