How One Festival Connects Generations Through Food

A celebration of Chinese culture under the brightest moon.

BY STEPHNIE @the Brimly Test Kitchen

September 19, 2024

Image Source/Editors @ Brimly

15 minute Read

INFO CONTENT

FEATURE ARTICLE

REFLECTIVE VIEW

“The full moon in autumn is as round as reunion.” – Wang Wei

The Chinese Moon Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, is one of China’s most significant cultural events. Observed on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, this festival is a time for family reunions, moon-gazing, and the sharing of mooncakes—a symbol of unity and completeness. Rooted in ancient tradition, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a vibrant mix of history, folklore, and cultural practices that continue to resonate in modern China and across the world.

Origins of the Moon Festival

The Moon Festival's history dates back over 3,000 years, when people in ancient China worshipped the moon as a celestial body governing agriculture and harvest cycles. The 15th day of the 8th lunar month was chosen because it typically marks the autumnal equinox, a time when the moon is believed to be at its fullest and brightest. During this period, the weather is cool, crops are ripe, and the harvest is ready to be celebrated.

The festival’s association with the moon reflects China’s deeply ingrained connection to nature, agricultural cycles, and the cosmos. In ancient agrarian societies, the moon was seen as a guide to the rhythm of life, marking planting and harvesting seasons. Its luminous presence was believed to have a direct influence on the success of the year’s harvest, leading people to give thanks for their bounty by offering sacrifices to the moon.

By the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE), the Moon Festival had grown in cultural significance and became an official celebration of the harvest. By the Song Dynasty (960–1279 CE), it was a popular festival across all social classes, embodying the ideals of harmony, prosperity, and family unity.

Image courtesy of Nicklaus Walter

The Legend of Chang’e and Hou Yi

One of the most enduring aspects of the Mid-Autumn Festival is the legend of Chang’e, the Moon Goddess. According to this ancient tale, in times past, there were ten suns in the sky, causing great suffering to the people. The hero Hou Yi, a skilled archer, shot down nine of the suns, saving the world from destruction. As a reward, he was given the elixir of immortality by the Queen Mother of the West. However, Hou Yi chose not to drink the elixir, preferring to live on Earth with his beloved wife, Chang’e.

In one version of the story, a wicked apprentice of Hou Yi tried to steal the elixir while Hou Yi was away. To prevent him from obtaining it, Chang’e drank the potion herself and ascended to the moon, where she became a goddess. Heartbroken yet devoted, Hou Yi began offering sacrifices to the moon, in the hope of being reunited with his wife one day. To this day, people celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival by gazing at the moon and offering prayers to Chang’e.

This legend has woven itself deeply into the fabric of the festival, symbolizing love, sacrifice, and reunion. The story of Chang’e and Hou Yi also reflects Chinese cultural values like loyalty, devotion, and selflessness, making it one of the most cherished tales in Chinese mythology.

Mooncakes

Mooncakes are perhaps the most recognizable symbol of the Mid-Autumn Festival. These round pastries are traditionally filled with lotus seed paste, red bean paste, salted egg yolk, or a variety of nuts. The circular shape of the mooncake mirrors the full moon and represents completeness and unity. Sharing mooncakes with family and friends is a meaningful ritual, symbolizing the wholeness of relationships and the hope for reunion.

Video courtesy of NYT Cooking

Dive into the world of mooncakes and see the hustle behind making them for the Mid-Autumn Festival, this video from NTY Cooking is a must-watch. It showcases the tradition, hard work, and family spirit that go into every mooncake. NTY Cooking does an excellent job capturing the process and the heart behind it all.

The practice of eating mooncakes dates back to the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368 CE), when it is said that rebel forces used mooncakes to send secret messages in their efforts to overthrow Mongol rule. According to legend, the leaders of the rebellion hid notes inside the mooncakes, instructing people to rise up against their oppressors on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival. This clever method of communication contributed to the festival’s association with unity and resistance against tyranny.

Today, mooncakes come in a variety of flavors and styles, reflecting the diverse regions and culinary traditions of China. From the classic Cantonese-style mooncakes to snow-skin varieties filled with ice cream, mooncakes have evolved to cater to modern tastes while maintaining their symbolic significance.

Family and Reunion

At its heart, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family gatherings. In Chinese culture, the family unit is central to society, and festivals such as the Moon Festival provide a much-needed opportunity for family members to reunite, particularly those who live far apart.

Much like the Chinese New Year, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a time when people return to their hometowns to be with their loved ones. Families will gather to share a meal, often featuring seasonal foods such as hairy crabs, taro, and pomelos. After dinner, families go outside to admire the full moon, a moment that fosters reflection on the importance of family unity and togetherness.

Image courtesy of Wan San Yip

During the festival, people also light lanterns, a practice that originated during the Song Dynasty and has since become a beloved tradition. The lanterns come in all shapes and sizes, often crafted into intricate designs such as animals, plants, or mythological creatures. These brightly lit symbols are hung in homes, parks, and public spaces, creating a festive and magical atmosphere.

In many parts of China, children carry lanterns and join in processions, symbolizing the hope for a bright and prosperous future. Lighting lanterns also serves as a reminder of the guiding light of the moon, which connects families across distances, no matter where they are in the world.

Modern Celebrations

While the Mid-Autumn Festival retains its traditional roots, modern celebrations have incorporated contemporary elements, particularly in urban areas. Large cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong hold grand events such as public lantern displays, concerts, and cultural performances. Some cities organize moon-viewing parties in parks, where people gather to watch the moon rise while enjoying tea and mooncakes.

Technology has also played a role in the festival’s evolution. Families separated by distance use video calls and social media to share the experience, maintaining the festival’s emphasis on reunion, even when physical gathering is not possible. Online shopping platforms offer an array of mooncakes and festival-related products, making it easier than ever to participate in the celebration from anywhere in the world.

In recent years, the festival has taken on a global dimension, as Chinese communities and cultural organizations around the world celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. From Chinatown parades in New York and San Francisco to lantern festivals in Southeast Asia, the Moon Festival has become a symbol of Chinese cultural pride and heritage.

Image courtesy of Rumman Amin

The Deeper Meaning of the Mid-Autumn Festival

Beyond the surface rituals of mooncakes, lanterns, and moon-gazing, the Mid-Autumn Festival carries profound meanings that resonate with people across generations. The full moon, with its round and radiant appearance, is a powerful symbol of unity, completeness, and harmony. In Chinese philosophy, the moon represents yin energy, which is associated with feminine qualities, darkness, and reflection. Its counterpart, the sun, embodies yang energy, symbolizing brightness and vitality.

Together, the moon and sun are in perfect balance, reflecting the Chinese belief in the harmony of opposites. The Mid-Autumn Festival is a reminder of the importance of balance in life—between work and rest, individual and collective, and past and future. It is a celebration of nature’s cycles and the interconnectedness of all things.

In a rapidly modernizing world, the festival remains a cherished occasion for people to pause, reconnect with loved ones, and reflect on the deeper rhythms of life. The moon, with its quiet presence, invites people to look beyond the chaos of everyday existence and appreciate the beauty of the world around them.

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The Chinese Moon Festival is a celebration of tradition, family, and cultural identity. With its roots in ancient agricultural practices and celestial worship, it has evolved into a festival rich with symbolism, storytelling, and communal joy. Whether through the sharing of mooncakes, the lighting of lanterns, or the gazing at the full moon, the Mid-Autumn Festival remains a time for reflection, reunion, and the renewal of bonds that tie families and communities together. As the moon continues to rise each autumn, so too will the enduring spirit of this festival—carrying its message of unity, balance, and harmony across the ages.