Mid-Autumn Festival

[korvo]

The mid-autumn festival (中秋節) is coming on September 29 this year. It is a time to gather with family and friends, and a time of thanksgiving. In Chinese folklore there is the story of Chang’e, the moon festival goddess, who is companion to the Moon Rabbit.

A kid’s version of the story goes like this:

A long time ago in China there were ten suns in the sky. Because of this it was very hot! The blazing suns dried up the rivers and there was a serious drought. People were running out of water to drink and the crops in the rice fields were withering. A famous archer, Hòu yì, was summoned to shoot down 9 of the suns in the sky. He did it successfully and was rewarded a “pill of the immortality.” Hòu yì went home and gave the precious pill to his wife, Cháng’é, for safekeeping. A visitor of the archer’s, however, heard about this pill and wanted to steal it from his wife. As the visitor was about to steal the pill from her Cháng é swallowed it. After she took the pill Cháng é felt lighter and lighter. Then she started to float. She flew all the way to the moon. When Cháng é got to the moon she coughed up the pill and the pill became a rabbit. The rabbit was the only companion Cháng é- the Moon Fairy- had on the moon and is named the “Jade Rabbit.” Source: The Mid-Autumn Festival, The Moon Fairy, and Mooncakes

During the celebration, kids wear “hats” made from pomelo skins for good fortune; at gatherings it’s common to eat mooncakes, drink tea, and pay respect to the moon and harvest.

I came across a couple of links that showcase some of the delicious foods and traditions: How to Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival and 10 Traditional Mid-Autumn Festival Foods. I really like the idea the author promotes of an outdoor dinner under the light of the harvest moon. Where I live, I’ll need an umbrella .

I wish everyone happiness over the holiday!

[starborn]

Oh my stars. Time flies.

Thank you for covering these. It’s very nostalgic to hear these childhood stories again.

I’m slightly sad that there won’t be any more family celebrations, now that my grandparents on my Chinese side are in an aged care facility. But I’ve always looked forward to this one: mooncakes, tea, and the moon! What could be better? Maybe a night market. I hope there’ll be a night market.

[tracyS]

Oh how lovely. Thankyou for sharing this. May you have happiness too.

[BryWisteria]

@korvo

How to Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival and 10 Traditional Mid-Autumn Festival Foods.

I really enjoyed the story of Chang’e and these fun links- wow, so many tasty foods! Gives me such a craving for roast duck and lotus root. I’ve never tried the buffalo nuts before- they really do look like buffalos, that’s so cool! I wonder what they taste like?

Thank you for sharing, @korvo, and I hope you had a lovely Mid-Autumn Festival!