The Mid-Autumn FestivalBy Mary Beth Fowler, an adoptive mom of a beautiful daughter from China.
Whew! The days are getting shorter and the air is becoming crisp. Wheat has been gathered in the north. Rice has been harvested in the south. It’s party time in China!
On one autumn evening each year, people throughout China celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, also called the Moon Festival. Like Thanksgiving, this is a time for families to gather and give thanks.
On the traditional Chinese calendar, the Moon Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, when the moon is at its fullest. On our Western calendar, that translates to a different date each year, between mid-September and early October.
Traditions
American kids know when Halloween is near because jack-o-lanterns and candy pop up everywhere. Similarly, Chinese kids know the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching when they see lanterns and moon cakes.
Decades ago Chinese families created paper lanterns in the shape of something from nature, such as a rabbit, to use in moon worship. Today children make similar lanterns in their school classrooms to carry on this tradition. But most families buy plastic lanterns, which are available in almost any shape, picturing anything from a rocket ship to a rock band. Lantern parades are a fun way for children to celebrate the Moon Festival. Many people take their lanterns to a city park, where the blaze of small lights makes a beautiful contrast to the enormous moon.
American kids know when Halloween is near because jack-o-lanterns and candy pop up everywhere. Similarly, Chinese kids know the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching when they see lanterns and moon cakes.
Decades ago Chinese families created paper lanterns in the shape of something from nature, such as a rabbit, to use in moon worship. Today children make similar lanterns in their school classrooms to carry on this tradition. But most families buy plastic lanterns, which are available in almost any shape, picturing anything from a rocket ship to a rock band. Lantern parades are a fun way for children to celebrate the Moon Festival. Many people take their lanterns to a city park, where the blaze of small lights makes a beautiful contrast to the enormous moon.
Moon Cakes
Moon cakes are semi-sweet, round cakes about the size of your palm. They may contain a variety of fillings. Many have an egg yolk in the center. When the cake is sliced in half, the yolk resembles a full moon. The cakes are usually stamped with mythological figures like Chang E and are packaged in elaborate boxes. People give them to family and friends with a wish for family unity.
Moon cakes are semi-sweet, round cakes about the size of your palm. They may contain a variety of fillings. Many have an egg yolk in the center. When the cake is sliced in half, the yolk resembles a full moon. The cakes are usually stamped with mythological figures like Chang E and are packaged in elaborate boxes. People give them to family and friends with a wish for family unity.
In honor of the festival, I sent Faith and her orphanage nannies mooncakes. 
Here is a picture of what LadyBugsnLove mailed to Faith for me. Faith should have received her package today. And yes, my wish is for family unity too!
Here is a picture of what LadyBugsnLove mailed to Faith for me. Faith should have received her package today. And yes, my wish is for family unity too!
2 comments:
You are so funny with the little snippets of Faith's picture...I am just so glad that I am one of the lucky ones who has actually seen her beautiful face!
What a wonderful post!!!! Thanks Donna!
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