Mid-Autumn Festival
September 25 — Harvest Moon. Each year on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar, the Chinese celebrate what is — outside Lunar New Year — the biggest event of the year.
It is a time of reunions, where families get together to feast, and also snack on mooncakes.
Mooncakes symbolise the full moon, and the most famous legend associated with it dates back to 1368AD. In the 14th century, China had been overrun by the Mongols. The Chinese used mooncakes to hide messages with plans for the rebellion. The Mongols, who did not eat mooncakes, were unaware of the subterfuge. Families were told to eat the cakes on the day of the festival, and it is then the revolt happened.
A traditional mooncake is filled with lotus seed paste with a salty egg yolk in the center, which represents the moon, but they are now made with many different fillings. They are very high in calories, and therefore are usually cut into quarters to be shared.
Another tradition in the eve of the festival has come to be known as the Lantern Festival. Children carry lanterns in all manner of shapes, from birds to animals and even dragons, in addition to the usual spherical designs.
One legend behind the Lantern Festival suggests that the Jade Emperor of Heaven was angry at a town that had killed his favourite goose. He was intent on destroying the town in a firestorm, but a kind fairy warned the town-folk to light lanterns on the day of retribution. When the Emperor looked down from Heaven, it appeared the town was already ablaze, and he then decided not to destroy it, as he was satisfied the goose had been avenged. Since that time, people celebrated their escape from vengeance by lighting lanterns on the anniversary of that day.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most colourful and fun events of the year.
September 25 — Harvest Moon. Each year on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar, the Chinese celebrate what is — outside Lunar New Year — the biggest event of the year.
It is a time of reunions, where families get together to feast, and also snack on mooncakes.
Mooncakes symbolise the full moon, and the most famous legend associated with it dates back to 1368AD. In the 14th century, China had been overrun by the Mongols. The Chinese used mooncakes to hide messages with plans for the rebellion. The Mongols, who did not eat mooncakes, were unaware of the subterfuge. Families were told to eat the cakes on the day of the festival, and it is then the revolt happened.
A traditional mooncake is filled with lotus seed paste with a salty egg yolk in the center, which represents the moon, but they are now made with many different fillings. They are very high in calories, and therefore are usually cut into quarters to be shared.
Another tradition in the eve of the festival has come to be known as the Lantern Festival. Children carry lanterns in all manner of shapes, from birds to animals and even dragons, in addition to the usual spherical designs.
One legend behind the Lantern Festival suggests that the Jade Emperor of Heaven was angry at a town that had killed his favourite goose. He was intent on destroying the town in a firestorm, but a kind fairy warned the town-folk to light lanterns on the day of retribution. When the Emperor looked down from Heaven, it appeared the town was already ablaze, and he then decided not to destroy it, as he was satisfied the goose had been avenged. Since that time, people celebrated their escape from vengeance by lighting lanterns on the anniversary of that day.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most colourful and fun events of the year.
