Mid-autumn Festival

Mooncakes Full Moon Family Reunion Archer Hou Yi Lady Chang’E

The joyous Mid-Autumn Festival was celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month ， around the time of the autumn equinox （秋分）. It is celebrated at the end of the harvest season. Mid-autumn Festival

origin Mid-autumn festival celebrations date back more than 2000 years. In ancient times, Chinese emperors prayed to heaven for a prosperous year. They chose the morning of the 15th day of the 2nd lunar month to worship the sun and the evening of the 15th day of the 8th lunar month to hold a ceremony in praise of the moon.

According to legend, in ancient time, the earth once had 10 suns circling over it. One day, ten suns appeared in the sky together, the water in the planet dried, people couldn’t live any longer. The Legend of Mid-autumn Day

The earth was saved when a strong and skillful archer, Hou Yi, succeeded in shooting down 9 of the suns. Hou Yi shoots down nine suns. 后羿射日 As his reward, the Heavenly Queen Mother gave Hou Yi the Elixir of Immortality, but she warned him that he must use it wisely.

Hou Yi ignored her advice and, corrupted by fame and fortune, became a tyrannical leader. Chang’E, his beautiful wife, could no longer stand by and watch him abuse his power so she stole his Elixir and drunk it, then she fled to the moon to escape his angry wrath. And thus began the legend of the beautiful woman in the moon, the Moon Fairy. Chang’E flies to the moon 嫦娥奔月

Lady CHANG'E - The Moon Goddess

Wu Gang cuts the laurel— the tree of immortality. 吴刚伐桂

玉兔捣药 Jade Rabbit makes medicine

On this day, Chinese families get together. They tell the story about a lady who lived in the moon. They give each other small round moon cake. Some moon cakes have a yellow egg yolk in the middle. The yolk looks like a bright, full moon. Eat the moon cakes 吃月饼

Moon cakes Mooncakes are Chinese pastries traditionally eaten during the Mid- Autumn Festival. The festival is for lunar worship and moon watching; mooncakes are regarded as an indispensable delicacy on this occasion. Mooncakes are offered between friends or on family gatherings while celebrating the festival, one of the most important Chinese festivals.

It is said Hou Yi missed his wife, so he made moon cakes. It looks like the moon. There are many kinds of moon cakes. They are small round cakes with meat, nuts or something sweet inside.

Nowadays, the mooncakes are in all kinds of shapes. The moon cakes sometimes look like the round bright moon.

Different Kinds of Mooncake

The round shape of moon cakes symbolizes not only the moon but also the unity of the family.

Reunion

The most important thing is looking at the moon. On that day, the moon looks brighter and rounder. We call this moon the full moon ---an auspicious symbol of abundance, harmony and luck.

Mid-autumn Festival Family reunions

Worship the Moon

Appreciate the Moon

Pomelo Lantern

Fire-dragon Dance

The End 完 Thank You ！谢 谢！