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Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated on month 8 day 15 of the lunar calendar (in September or
October). Mid-Autumn Festival 2016 is on September 15. To many Chinese, it is still the second
most important festival after Chinese New Year.
The Mooncakes
Mooncakes are out in the market weeks before the Mid-Autumn Festival. They are a seasonal gift
among friends, family and business partners. Mooncakes are available at bakeries and restaurants.
When you see the mooncakes for sale it is a sign that the Mid-Autumn Festival is coming. There
are various fillings in the mooncakes. The traditional ones have sweet fillings such as red bean
paste, lotus seed paste, and Chinese date paste. You will also see the above flavours with one or
two salty duck egg yolks inside. They are delicious but also high in calories. With the current
awareness on healthy eating we now see smaller sized mooncakes and low calorie fillings of green
tea, mochi, and even fruit.
Did you know there is a legend about the Chinese using mooncakes to deliver secret messages? At
one point the Chinese were ruled by the Mongolians and wanted to overthrow their foreign rulers.
When the Mid-Autumn festival came they inserted secret plans inside their mooncakes. When
these mooncakes were delivered and eaten all the members who received the messages fought
against the Mongolians according to the secret plan. The Chinese successfully overthrew their
Mongolian rulers and established the Ming dynasty (1368-1644 AD).
Family Traditions
Family Reunions
A long time ago in China, fall was the season for harvest and, following that, the time for people
working out of town to return home to be with their families. This tradition of travelling home to
visit family remains to this day. Because of this, the Mid-Autumn Festival is thought of as a time
for family reunion. Family members who work in different cities or provinces go home and enjoy
an abundant family dinner.
After the dinner families will have mooncakes and go outside to appreciate the moon in their yard
or in the park. This is also the time for the children to look at the moon and see if they can see the
shadow of the Moon Fairy or the Jade rabbit. With the landing of the astronauts on the moon we all
know there is no moon fairy but the beautiful, enchanting story of the moon lady still has its charm
in Chinese culture.