Mid Autumn Festival

Harvest Moon
Harvest moon, Autumn Moon is celebrated in many cultures. Crops are gathered, Gods are thanked and offerings made for more good harvests.

Chinese people celebrate Mid Autumn Festival on the 15th day of the eight month of the Lunar Calendar.

Paper Lantern

It is written that in the Sung Dynasty (A.D. 960-1280) a rebellion against an occupying government was carried by ‘Texting’ i.e. sending hidden messages in cakes. Baked into each cake sent to families was a plan of attack on that full moon night. The attack successful, the government overthrown, hence the celebration. The day continues to be celebrated centuries later – no attacks but moon-cakes, and family feasts, lanterns and moon-viewing.

After dinner it is customary for families to go out with children to gather at parks, on beaches, on hill tops and mountains closer to the moon to see it rise, and to gaze. Children carry paper/bamboo lanterns lit up by candles but due to fire hazards, especially with young children, and the huge task of cleaning up wax from public places.

Lanterns for Sale

Hong Kong has gone over to plastic lanterns with battery operated lights.

Pretty Girl

Mr. Cat

Noodle Stall

Rickshaw Man

Mei Mei

If she gazes at the full moon she’ll see a rabbit.

Traditional Moon Cake

Tradition Moon Cake stamped with special characters and filled with lotus paste and round whole egg yolks, one or two symbolizing the moon are now giving way to moon cakes in various shapes and different fillings – mung beans, chocolate truffle, nuts and come with flavours coffee, coconut and even chilli.

Moon Cake Stall

Non-traditional moon cakes and lanterns of plastic, battery, bulbs has taken the romance out of the festival but it is still a magical time, a time when a natural phenomena takes place, the day after mid-autumn the days begin to get cooler. Temperatures begin to fall and summer officially departs.