More than Mooncakes
Alice Li ‘27
Contributor

One of the most significant holidays in Chinese culture, the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Lunar calendar, which corresponds to a date from mid-September to October on the Gregorian calendar. In China, it is a day of family gatherings, feasting, and admiring the full moon. Every year at Loomis Chaffee, a dedicated group of individuals organizes and plans the school’s own celebration of the holiday, including Mrs. Molly Pond, the Dean of International Students at Loomis Chaffee.

“I am fortunate to have an amazing team of parents as well as Ms. Markowski who have partnered with me over the past few years to make Mid-Autumn Festival a central fixture in the fall term's Student Activity offerings,” Mrs. Pond explained. “Parent volunteers proposed ideas, Ms. Markowski and I shared our thoughts, and together we designed a program that was even bigger and better than in years past.”

A committee of International Student Ambassadors was also established to assist with the preparation process. Celina Xiong ‘27, a sophomore ISA from Singapore, described, “The ISAs mainly did the execution part of the planning and running of the celebration. Mrs. Pond gathered us very frequently to discuss the details and to ensure that we were all on track with our communications and on top of what we were supposed to complete.”

“We received a lot of support from our local day students, parents, and families,” Xiong expressed. “We couldn’t have done it without them.”

The celebration was deemed successful by the outstanding number of Loomis students who attended the event in demonstration of their support. In the SNUG, crowds of students could be seen milling around, chatting and laughing around the food and music.

“What I liked most about the [festival] was the food, and of course the bubble tea, which I think everyone wanted,” Xiong remarked. “I also think the game [of picking up] marbles using chopsticks was also really popular among the students, it was a lot of fun.”

“Moving the celebration into the SNUG was terrific,” commented Mrs. Pond. “It allowed for more students to enjoy the activities, the raffle, the music, and the foods and beverages, and it also encouraged students to stick around.”

The raffle was especially a highlight of the celebration, including an assortment of prizes such as stuffed animals and gift cards. Students earned tickets for their participation in activities, which they could then submit to enter the raffle.

“I also liked that the parents brought many different flavors of mooncakes this year and had a punch card so that students who tried 10 different flavors would win a special prize,” Mrs. Pond added. “I was astounded by the generosity of time and effort put forth by one parent who made homemade chocolates in the shape of the terracotta soldiers found in Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, China.”

These celebrations mean more than just fun for students, however. As Xiong puts it, “These celebrations create a sense of community and belonging for our international students here, so that they feel like there’s a part of home and a part of their country within the Loomis community.”

The mission of international festivals on the Island extends beyond the international student community. Its core lies within the spread of multiculturalism and the fostering of an environment where global perspectives can be celebrated. “It’s also the educational part that really matters,” Xiong emphasized. “We want to honor the traditions of our international students, but in doing so we want to create a community where everyone can be involved in these types of events, and where some of our local students can learn about the traditions and culture in other parts of the world.”

“Mid-Autumn Festival is a holiday that is all about giving thanks and celebrating community. It is a great way to start the year on the Island,” Mrs. Pond stated.

Mrs. Pond and Xiong expressed their shared excitement for what the future entails for other international celebrations. “I hope students will let me know what holidays they want us to observe and celebrate while they are here at Loomis… and also hope that families interested in partnering with Ms. Markowski and I will be in touch so that we can bring the many and diverse cultural holidays that are celebrated in the homes of members of the Loomis Chaffee community here to the Island,” Mrs. Pond highlighted.

“I’m really excited for Chinese New Year here, and also Cultural Outburst during spring term, and I’m just looking forward to all the events we’re going to do this year as a community,” Xiong concluded.

The future of international holidays on the Island is bright in the hands of Mrs. Pond, the ISAs, and other volunteers leading the charge. It is thanks to their collective effort that the Loomis community further develops its mission of diversity and inclusion.