Also called the Mid-Autumn Festival or the Harvest Festival, the Moon Festival is a traditional Asian festival where people spend time with their family and loved ones to eat barbecue outside and eat moon cakes while admiring the moon.
Table of contents
When?
Celebrated the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, this festival happens mid-September or in the beginning of October. This year, it falls on Thursday, October first.
Photo by Sanni Sahil on Unsplash
The origin of this festivity can be traced back to the moon worship during the Zhou Dynasty (1046 -256 BC), over 3000 years ago! At that time, people would celebrate the harvest and the full moon. The word Mid-Autumn Festival first appeared in the Book of Rites, written during the Han Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD).
The Moon Festival was popularized during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) and celebrated all around China. The Moon Cakes became popular at that time too.
Not until 2008, did Mid-Autumn Festival get officially listed as a holiday. Now, it is considered the second most important festival after Chinese New Year.
Mythology
Chang’e flies to the Moon.
The most popular legend to explain the origin of this festival is the Story of Hou Yi. Hou Yi was an immortal archer that decided to shoot down 9 extra suns from the sky to save Earth. Little did he know that these were the 9 sons of the Jade God. Angered by the loss of his sons, the Jade God decided to punish Hou Yi by making him mortal.
Soon after, Hou Yi would meet a young lady named Chang-e and they would madly fall in love. Married and happy, Hou Yi wanted his love to last forever. The Western Queen would give Hou Yi a pill granting immortality as a reward for his good deeds. If Hou Yi and Chang-e would share the pill, they would live forever. However, if only one of them swallowed the pill, they would become a God.
An evil man named Feng Meng (Hou Yi’s apprentice in some versions) learned about the pill and wanted to obtain it for himself. Breaking into their house while Hou Yi was out hunting, he forced Chang-e to give him the pill. Knowing that she could not outpower him, Chang-e prefered swallowing the pill rather than giving it to him. Becoming lighter and lighter, she then rose up and flew to the moon to become the Moon Godess, wishing to stay as close as she could to her true love, Hou Yi.
Learning about what happened to his wife, Hou Yi was struck with sadness and would offer the fruits and cakes she would enjoy as sacrifice. People learned about this and the tradition caught on.
Chang’e, Godess of the Moon
Traditions
Eating Moon Cake
Traditional Chinese pastry, it is made of wheat flour and sweet stuffing. There are all kind of varieties of moon cakes that can be found and some time duck egg or yolk can be found inside.
Round like the moon, it is a symbol of family reunion. Rich in calories, the correct way of eating it is by cutting it into pieces equal to the number of family members to share it with them.
Once called Hu Cake, it is Concubine Yang of the Tang Dynasty who decided to change the name after being inspired by the moon while eating them with Emperor Li Longjie. The name was adopted after.
It is said, Moon Cakes were adopted as a tradition after being used by a general to send hidden messages to his subordinates and playing an important role in winning the war during the Yuan Dynasty (1271 - 1368 AD).
BBQ
Photo by Ian Valerio on Unsplash
Barbecues play an important role in family reunions. It brings family members together outdoors and they can admire the moon together. The Taipei City Government opens up a total of 20 riverside parks where people can go barbecuing.
Admiring the Moon
Symbol of family reunion in many Chinese poems, the Moon plays a big role in this festival. People get together under the moon at rooftops, lakesides or mountaintops to get the best view.
Some families still worship the Moon by placing a table facing the Moon with mooncakes, incense and round fruits but it is less common nowadays.
Wearing Pomelo Hats
Because the mandarin word for pomelo (you zi) is a homophone to another word meaning prayer for a son, eating a pomelo and wearing the skin on the head is seen as auspicious for the youth. It is believed that the Godess of the Moon, Chang’e will see them and respond to their prayers.
Moon stories
The Jade Rabbit
One upon a time, three immortals disguised as beggars went into the forest asking for food from tree animals: a fox, a monkey and a rabbit.
The monkey and the fox both gave food to the immortals. The rabbit, however, did not have any food to give. It felt so bad about not being able to help them, it said:
“I’m so sorry, I can’t offer you any food but I can offer myself” and jumped into the fire.
The immortals were so touched by the selfless action that they rewarded the Rabbit by making him immortal and sending it to the Moon Palace to accompagny Chang’e. It would then be known as the Jade Rabbit and would be responsible of pounding the immortality medicine for those living in Heaven.
Wu Gang Chopping the Laurel Tree
A man named Wu Gang wanted to be immortal. He followed the immortals to learn how. Not willing to put in the effort, the Emperor of Heaven got angry with his attitude.
So to punish Wu Gang, the immortal planted a massive Osmanthus tree in front of the Moon Palace and told him that if he could cut it, he would become immortal. However, whenever Wu Gang would cut it, it would regenerate. This endless hard work would be Wu Gang’s punition.
People believe that if you look at the moon, the shadows on its surface are caused by the shadow of the giant tree.
Conclusion
The Moon Festival is the perfect occasion to spend time with loved ones and be grateful for being alive. Don’t be she and go and visit the parks if you can; you will probably be invited to barbecue with the locals and spend a good time. Leave a comment if this was helpful and tell me: Do you enjoy watching the moon?
“The moon, grown full now over the sea,
Brightening the whole of heaven,
Brings to separated hearts
The long thoughtfulness of night….
It is no darker though I blow out my candle.
It is no warmer though I put on my coat.
So I leave my message with the moon
And turn to my bed, hoping for dreams”