On 20 September 2021, the Chinese all over the world celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival. The part about the traditional festive holiday that I like most is of course, the mooncakes!
I love mooncakes. Every year I look forward to the festival so I can enjoy this Chinese sweet and savoury delicacy. I am glad nowadays we have many halal varieties.
The Mid-Autum Festival or Moon Festival, is a centuries-old Chinese holiday and an important one in modern Chinese culture.
The holiday falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month of the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, when there’s a big, bright full moon.
In China, in the past, people would gather to celebrate the autumn harvest or to make offerings to the moon. These days, most people just gather with friends and family, lighting up lanterns and enjoy the view of the fullest moon of the year together.
The moon being full and round is not only something to be admired, but it is also a symbol of unity and completeness.
Making and sharing mooncakes is one of the hallmark traditions of the mooncake festival. In the Chinese culture, a round shape symbolizes completeness and reunion. Thus, the sharing and eating of round mooncakes among family members during the week of the festival signifies the completeness and unity of families.
During this time of year, people in China and Chinese all over the world go mooncake crazy!
Most people will buy a range of mooncakes during the season to give to the various people in their lives.
Similar to traditional American Thanksgiving, the Mid-Autumn Festival is best spent with the family.
Reunion is definitely holiday’s theme. In many parts of the world, Chinese who are living elsewhere will try to make it back home for a big reunion meal followed by gazing at the moon with their family.
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival to all Chinese all over the world!
