tadpole

It was the Mid-Autumn Festival last Tuesday, the 25th of September. I didn’t know anything about the festival apart from we eat moon cakes and we carry brightly lit lanterns…and then end up burning the lanterns to bits! Both my parents are Chinese. I am a pure Chinese. But I have to admit that I have very little understanding about Chinese traditions (I am so ashamed of myself!)…

Image from ReadySetGlow…

I remember when I was a kid, I used to have a goldfish lantern. Both my brothers had Power Rangers. At night, we carried our lanterns out to the pool, we walked around the house and we had games in the dark. In between games, we would eat moon cakes and pig-breads. It was all great fun. The adults supervised us and chatted under the moon. When we finally got tired and decided to go inside, I dropped my lantern and it was burned to bits. But I didn’t cry. I think. Ahh, I miss those days!

My goldfish lantern and I (half-human and half-tadpole).

Have you noticed that Chang-e is often stamped on every moon cake and printed on every moon cake box? I have. I was curious to know why and so I did a brief research on the festival. And I discovered so many interesting facts, so many, I thought my brain was going to explode! I am not exaggerating. There are so many variations and adaptations of the Chang-e legend. It was so confusing. I am still confused now actually.

I think I should share them with you guys since “sharing is caring” or is it the other way round?!?!

According to Wikipedia, the Mid-Autumn Festival (also known as the Moon Festival, Lantern Festival or Mooncake Festival) falls on the 15th day of the 8th Lunar month of the Chinese calendar. Hmm, way too complicated for my little brain. Just remember it usually falls around mid or late September when the moon is at its fullest and brightest.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is regarded as a very important holiday in the Chinese calendar. Traditionally, Chinese people will gather with friends and relatives to admire the bright mid-autumn harvest moon and eat moon cakes and pomeloes together.

Accompanying the celebration, there are additional cultural or regional customs, such as:

• Eating moon cakes outside under the moon;
• Putting pomelo rinds on one’s head;
• Carrying brightly lit lanterns;
• Burning incense in reverence to deities including Change-e;
• Planting Mid-Autumn trees;
• Lighting lanterns on towers; and
• Fire Dragon Dances.

I think this post is a bit long by my standard. I am so tired now and I can’t be bothered to go on talking about Chang-e. If you want to know more about her, click here. This site is the best among all that I have encountered.

I didn’t really celebrate this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival. My mom just bought four moon cakes and I didn’t have any. I don’t enjoy eating moon cakes actually, apart from the yolks. There are still some leftovers in the fridge. If you want some, please do not hesitate to contact tadpole.