August Moon Festival
Also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, the August Moon Festival is a Chinese celebration of the harvest, much in the same manner as the American Thanksgiving holiday. August Moon is held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, when Chinese legend says the moon is at its roundest and brightest. Does this Spark an idea?
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Mythology
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The moon has an important place in ancient Chinese mythology. As far back as the Han dynasty, the sun and the moon were considered the "chief objects of veneration." It was believed that a deep relationship existed between the moon and water, with the moon regulating water supplies. This is in turn linked to the harvest, as water is a necessary element for the fertility of the soil.
Mooncake
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The traditional food of the August Moon Festival is the mooncake, a small, round cake made of a sweet bean-paste topped with a golden, flaky crust. The top of the mooncake is imprinted with the sign of the baker who made it. Sometimes an egg yolk is baked into the center of the cake to represent the round, golden moon. Friends and family send one another mooncakes during the August Moon Festival as a token of thanks.
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Associations
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For Chinese children, this is the Festival of the Lantern. Brightly colored lanterns of bamboo and wire in all sorts of shapes and representations are hung on pillars and trees. The lanterns add to the brightness of the already moonlit night. The August Moon Festival is also known as the Women's Festival, because of the moon's association with beauty and elegance. People in the Far East appreciate the moon for its 'yin', or female, aspect.
Customs
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Friendship is an important element of the festival; and it is said that under the bright moon, lost lovers are reunited and new romances are begun. Because of the feminine aspect of the moon, many traditional Chinese folktales of the festival involve a "moon maiden," and small children are said to be able to see a goddess, the "Lady on the Moon," who will grant their wishes if they have clear minds and pure hearts.
Legend of the Moon Goddess
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The legend of the moon goddess, Chang-O, is often told to children during the August Moon Festival. According to the tale, Chang-O was married to a famous archer named Hou-Yi. As a reward for completing an important task for the emperor, Hou-Yi was given a magical pill. While Hou-Yi was out of the house, Chang-O found the pill and swallowed it, which allowed her to fly. She flew all the way to the moon but was unable to return to earth, which is why she is the "Lady on the Moon."
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References
- Photo Credit yellow chinese lanterns image by Paul O"Hearn from Fotolia.com
