3 Things You Might Not Know About the Mid-Autumn Festival

What is the Mid-Autumn Festival?

Also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival in China, it is a celebration that falls on the 15th day of the 8th month in the lunar calendar. Similar holidays are celebrated in other Asian countries such as Japan (Tsukimi), Korea (Chuseok), and Vietnam (Tet Trung Thu). In 2023 it takes place on Sept 29th.

The Mid Autumn Festival is a celebration similar to Thanksgiving in North America. The festival is meant to celebrate the harvest moon and is an opportunity for family and friends to get together, share good food, and provide best wishes for the future.

3 Things You May Not Know:

1. Mooncakes: There are many ways to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, but the most popular way is to enjoy a Moon Cake. There are numerous flavors of moon cakes, usually sweet, but some newer flavors have arisen such as fermented bean curd filling. Our favorite is the salted egg yolk and lotus paste mooncake, the contrasting flavor and texture make an interesting but delicious concoction.

2. Games: Another part of celebrating the Mid-Autumn festival is playing games with friends and family. In the part of China where our co-owner Ken grew up is a game known as Bo Bing. Bo Bing is a dice game played by the whole family around the dinner table. Each person takes turns rolling six die in a bowl, trying to land different combinations, which win different prizes, such as a moon cake, oranges, or a red envelope.

3. History: The Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations originated in the Zhou Dynasty (1045 – 221 BC). Ancient Chinese emperors worshiped the harvest moon in autumn, as they believed that the practice would bring them a plentiful harvest the following year.

How do you celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival?

Sources:

What is the Origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival? A Brief History

8 Things You Might Not Know About the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival