Here is another post about the Mid-Autumn Festival~~~
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a fun and important celebration for many people in East and Southeast Asia. It’s on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar when the moon is really big and bright! People also call it the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival. It’s full of cool stories, yummy food, and cultural traditions.
This festival has been celebrated since the time of the Zhou Dynasty (1045-221 BC) in ancient China. A famous story told during this festival is about Hou Yi and Chang’e. Hou Yi, a hero, got a special gift for saving the world from too many suns: a magic elixir. But he didn’t use it because he wanted to stay with his wife, Chang’e. In the end, Chang’e had to take the elixir and she floated up to the moon. To remember her, Hou Yi started the tradition of worshipping the moon.
A special food during this festival is the Mooncake, made since the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368). It’s a round, sweet pastry that sometimes has a salted duck egg yolk inside. It represents the full moon and brings people together.
Now, there are lots of different kinds of mooncakes, like ice cream mooncakes and ones with chocolate and coffee fillings. Each kind has its own special taste but is made for celebrating and sharing.
Whether participating in the traditional moon gazing or enjoying a slice of mooncake, the spirit of the Mid-Autumn Festival invites all to experience the enchantment of a moonlit night filled with joy and unity.
I’m going to try a peanut butter icy skin mooncake with a soft mochi outside. You should try one too! You can find them at local Asian grocery stores or in Chinatown.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chang%27e
https://www.chinahighlights.com/festivals/mid-autumn-festival-history-origin.htm
