The Moon

Festival

The Moon Festival (“ Zhong Qiu Jie” ——中秋节 ), is also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar.

On the evening of the Moon Festival, the moon is at its largest and brightest.

The full moon symbolizes abundance, harmony and luck.

The Moon Festival

3 main reasons for celebrating the Moon Festival

Gathering: Family members and loved come together and enjoy the full moon. Those who can not return home watch the bright moonlight and feel deep longing for their loved ones.

Thanksgiving: A chance to be thankful for family and friends and the year’s harvest.

Praying: Prayers for good fortune and romance.

What is the Moon Festival about

Today, festivities centered around the Moon Festival are more varied. After a family reunion dinner, many people like to go out to attend special performances in parks and public squares.

Celebrating the Moon Festival

People in different parts of China have different ways of celebrating the Moon Festival.

In Guangzhou (Southern China), a huge lantern show is a big attraction for local citizens.

Thousands of various shaped lanterns are lit, forming a fantastic contrast with the bright moonlight.

Celebrating in China

In East China's Zhejiang Province, crowds gather to watch the flood tide of the Qian-tang River during the Mid-Autumn Festival

The flood tide that forms at the narrow mouth of the Qian-tang river is particularly impressive.

This spectacle not only attracts locals but also those from other parts of the country.

Watching Flood Tide

In the 14th century, the eating of moon cakes at Mid-Autumn Festival was given a new significance.

Zhu Yuan Zhang was plotting to overthrow the Yuan Dynasty started by the Mongolians

The rebels hid their messages in the Mid-Autumn moon-cakes.

Mid-Autumn Festival is hence also a commemoration of the overthrow of the Mongolians by the Han people.

Story of Eating Moon Cake at the Festival

Moon Cakes are synonymous with the Moon Festival

They come in various flavours, shapes and sizes. Usually they measuring three inches in diameter and one and a half inches in thickness.

The main ingredients are: melon seeds, lotus seeds, almonds, minced meats, bean paste, orange peels.

Some fillings include a golden yolk from a salted duck egg in the center

About the Moon Cake

Chinese characters stamped on top of the moon cake indicate the name of the bakery and the type of filling.

Traditionally, thirteen moon cakes were piled in a pyramid to symbolize the thirteen moons of a “complete year”, that is, twelve moons plus one intercalary moon.

Nowadays, they are usually presented in boxes of four which indicate the four phases of the moon.

About the Moon Cake

This day is also considered a harvest festival since fruits, vegetables and grain had been harvested.

Food offerings are placed on an altar set up in the courtyard. Fruits offered may include:apples, pears, peaches, grapes, pomegranates melons, oranges and pomelos.

Special foods inclulde cooked taro and water caltrop, a type of water chestnut resembling black buffalo horns.

Taro holds a special significance because at the time of creation, taro was the first food discovered at night in the moonlight.

What Else to Eat at the Festival

The Moon Festival is also celebrated in Korea Japan Vietnam.

Celebrating in Other Countries

In Korea, it is called “Ch’usok”. A 3-day holiday where families return to their hometown

to thank their ancestors for the good harvest. Various folk games are played which vary region to

region.

Traditional foods include: Songpyeon (half moon shaped

rice cakes in various flavors) Hangwa (An artistic food decorated with natural colors made with rice flour, honey, fruit, and roots)

Moon Festival in Korea

In Japan, it is called Tsukimi or otsumiki (moon viewing).

It is a quieter celebration and this tradition was introduced by the Chinese over 1000 years ago.

Also holds the meaning of celebrating the autumn harvest.

The celebration includes eating rice dumplings called "tsukimi dango.”

As an offering to the moon, dumplings and taro potatoes placed in an alter.

In Japan

In Vietnam, it is called “Tet Trung-Thu”. Emphasis on celebration of children. Children join parades holding lanterns and wearing

masks. Lanterns signify a wish for the sun’s light and warmth

to return. Special foods include: cakes and fruits elaborately

prepared as food displays.

In Vietnam

The Moon Festival is a celebration of harvest, abundance and family unity.

It is one of the most widespread and popular holidays after the New Year.

So get ready to eat mooncakes, rice cakes, dance and make paper lanterns

Let's celebrate!

The Moon Festival is one of the most widespread and popular

holidays