Mid-Autumn Festival

The purposes and stories behind Mid-Autumn festival (aka Moon Festival, aka Mooncake Festival) seem to vary from person to person.  So, I'm taking what I've observed, what Chinese nationals have told me, and am gathering some insight from Google to give you the best description I can on this festival.  There has been much excitement, fireworks, and a school holiday for the Chinese nationals due to this festival, so even though I don't fully comprehend everything that's been going on around me, I definitely feel it's blog-worthy.  :)


MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL

China's Mid-Autumn Festival is traditionally celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunisolar month, which is in September or October. The festival is the second most important festival after the Spring Festival to Chinese people. Every year, when the festival comes, people go home from every corner of the country and the world to meet their family and have dinner with them. Celebration of the Mid-Autumn festival has a history of over 3,000 years, dating back to the moon worship in ancient times. The festival is celebrated extensively across the country, and is one of the few reunion holidays for Chinese families.  On that day, Chinese family members stay together, admiring the full moon and eating mooncakes.

(Most of this information was gathered from http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/festivals/mid-autumn-festival.htm)


THE GIRL ON THE MOON


I have heard and read several different versions about "the girl on the moon".  But the following version comes the closest to the story that was told to me with the most heart behind it.  :)  Enjoy!


Chang'e was a beautiful young girl working in the Jade Emperor's palace in heaven, where immortals, good people and fairies lived. One day, she accidentally broke a precious porcelain jar. Angered, the Jade Emperor banished her to live on earth, where ordinary people lived. She could return to the Heaven, if she contributed a valuable service on earth.
Chang'e was transformed into a member of a rich farming family. When she was 18, a young hunter named Houyi from another village spotted her, now a beautiful young woman. They became friends.
One day, a strange phenomenon occurred—10 suns arose in the sky instead of one, blazing the earth. Houyi, an expert archer, stepped forward to try to save the earth. He successfully shot down nine of the suns, becoming an instant hero. He eventually became king and married Chang'e.


Chang'e-"The Girl on The Moon"










But Houyi grew to become greedy and selfish. He sought immortality by ordering an elixir be created to prolong his life. The elixir in the form of a single pill was almost ready when Chang'e came upon it. She either accidentally or purposely swallowed the pill. This angered King Houyi, who went after his wife. Trying to flee, she jumped out the window of a chamber at the top of the palace—and, instead of falling, she floated into the sky toward the Moon. King Houyi tried unsuccessfully to shoot her down with arrows.

In contrast to the first version, her companion, a rabbit, does not create elixir of life. Aside from the rabbit, the Moon is also inhabited by a woodcutter who tries to cut down the cassia tree, giver of life. But as fast as he cuts into the tree, it heals itself, and he never makes any progress. The Chinese use this image of the cassia tree to explain mortal life on earth—the limbs are constantly being cut away by death, but new buds continually appear.

Meanwhile, King Houyi ascended to the sun and built a palace. So Chang'e and Houyi came to represent the yin and yang, the Moon and the sun. 

MOONCAKES

A mooncake is a special type of pastry that is only available during this season.  Emily and I had the privelege of learning how to make mooncakes with my class today.  It was lots of fun!  There are many different flavors, and since I'm not quite an expert on reading Chinese yet, I never knew what I was getting.  Just because the inside looks yummy, doesn't mean that it is.  BUT, sometimes it does!  I found one with nuts and fruit today that I really enjoyed.  :)

Emily making a mooncake

Mooncake

To eat or not to eat?

"MOONING WEEK"

This week is "mooning week" at school.  No worries, it's not what you think! :)  Since this week is so special for the Chinese, we have dedicated this week to "mooning" the national staff at our school by surprising them with small gifts and a note of encouragement each day.  The fun, but challenging part is that we are "mooning" people that we don't necessarily interact with or see often.  I enjoyed the shopping and am enjoying the "mooning" process.

It's been a fun and busy week and it's only Tuesday!

He made two great lights--the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.  Genesis 1:16