The Mooncake Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday that celebrates the harvest and commemorates the uprising against the Mongols. It falls on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Lunar calendar, and this year it will be on September 13th. Families get together to enjoy each other’s company and eat mooncakes, which are round or square pastries filled with Lotus seed paste, red bean paste, or other sweet fillings. The mooncakes are often imprinted with the Chinese characters for “longevity” or “harmony”.
Mooncakes are thought to have originated during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), when rebel groups used them to pass messages to each other disguised as gifts. The uprising they planned was successful, and the mooncakes became a symbol of rebellion and victory. Nowadays, the holiday is a time to enjoy good food and good company, and to give mooncakes to friends and family.
If you’re in China during the Mooncake Festival, you’ll see mooncakes for sale everywhere, from street stalls to high-end hotels. And if you’re not in China, you can still enjoy the holiday by making your own mooncakes or buying them from a Chinese bakery.
Moon cakes are round or square pastries, filled with lotus seed paste, duck egg yolk, or five-kernel filling, and stamped with the Chinese character for "longevity" or an image of the moon. They are eaten in small wedges, washed down with tea.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunion, so if you are celebrating with your extended family, make sure everyone has a chance to catch up and bond over moon cakes and tea. If you are celebrating with friends, make it a potluck and have everyone bring their favorite moon cake recipe to share.
Decorate your home with lanterns and streamers in the colors of the harvest moon—orange, yellow, and red. And don't forget to light some candles and incense to honor the ancestors.
On the night of the festival, step out into the moonlight, take a deep breath, and make a wish for good fortune in the year to come.
Genre: ART / General