The Mid-Autumn Festival
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Updated: 2004-01-16 15:51

According to Chinese custom, the 15th day of the eighth lunar month is a time for family reunion as symbolized by the roundest moon of the year and moon cakes.

Origins:During the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), the 15th day of the eighth lunar month was designated as the Mid-Autumn Festival. During the Zhou Dynasty (c. 11th century - 256 BC), the night of the roundest moon of the year was an occasion for the Chinese to hold rituals to greet the cool weather and sacrifice to the Moon Goddess. By the Tang Dynasty ( AD 618 - 907) merry-making had become part of the festival, as had watching the moon rise and enjoying its full, silvery light.

Moon cakes:On the Mid-Autumn Festival, it is traditional to eat moon cakes. Moon cakes have sweet, heavy fillings and are covered in pastry. They are meant to represent the full moon, but they also represent the family and reunion. Those who are on the road or who live far from home traditionally feel nostaligic on this night and ask the moon to carry their greetings to their families.