Having lived in Shanghai for seven years before moving to Canada, I can say that there are a few memorable festivals that our family celebrates every year.  The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is a significant traditional celebration that has been observed for centuries in various East Asian countries.  This festival is deeply rooted in culture, history, and folklore, and it is a time when families and communities come together to celebrate the harvest season and the beauty of the full moon.  Based on the lunar calendar, rather than the Western Gregorian Calendar, it falls on the 15th day of the 8th month in the lunar calendar.  This means that in the Gregorian calendar, the exact date of this festival changes every year.  This year the festival is celebrated on September 28th, 2023 based on the Western calendar.

In addition to its cultural significance, the Mid-Autumn Festival has also been recognized as a key cultural heritage by UNESCO, highlighting its importance globally.

The Mid-Autumn Festival traces its origins back to ancient China, with its earliest recorded celebrations dating back over 2,000 years.  One of the most well-known legends associated with the festival is the story of Chang’e, the Moon Goddess.  Based on this legend, Houyi, a skilled archer, saved the world by shooting down nine of ten suns that scorched the earth.  As a reward, he was given the elixir of immortality.  However, his wife Chang’e was afraid that the elixir would be toxic and thus she drank the elixir instead.  This elixir of immortality made her into the moon goddess.  On the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, it is believed that Chang’e is the most active, and people celebrate her by offering mooncakes.  This is a story known by practically every Chinese child.  I remember being read this tale as a child and watching cartoons about the legend during the mid-autumn festival.

This year we made the mooncakes into peanut shaped, crab shaped and persimmon fruit shapes.

Mooncakes are arguably the most iconic symbol of the Mid-Autumn Festival.  These are a type of pastry made of flour with various fillings, from traditional lotus seed paste, red bean, salted egg yolk, and even nuts and seeds.  Mooncakes are often intricately decorated with Chinese characters, symbols, and patterns that represent good luck and blessings.  This year, my cousins and I baked some uniquely designed mooncakes.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunions.  People travel long distances to be with their loved ones, and families gather for a special meal.  The round shape of mooncakes and the full moon are seen as symbols of completeness and unity, emphasizing the importance of family ties.  The Chinese word for “round” is also a play on words for unity.  Typically the family gathers for a meal, enjoy mooncakes together, and watch the moon.  The moon is believed to be at its brightest and most beautiful during this time, and it symbolizes unity and harmony.