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Another common tradition is to create and decorate paper lanterns. Some families may set out a table of snacks and candles to honor Chang’e.
Happy midautumn full#
During the festival, families will reunite and host dinners under the full moon. The Mid Autumn Festival is celebrated according to the Chinese lunar calendar, so the date of the holiday usually falls in September or early October.
Happy midautumn movie#
There was even a movie about the legend released by Netflix in 2020 called “Over the Moon.” A still from the 2020 film “Over the Moon” shows a family celebrating Mid Autumn Festival together. The legend has been kept alive to this day through the traditions of the Mid Autumn Festival.
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In fact, where westerners may see a man’s face in the moon, Chinese see a rabbit on the face of the moon instead! Some legends say that her only companion on the moon is a jade rabbit. Now immortal, Chang’e flew up to heaven and made her home on the moon. But when a thief broke in and attempted to steal the elixir from Chang’e, she drank it herself rather than surrender. Hou Yi wanted to stay on earth with Chang’e, so he gave her the potion for safekeeping. As a reward for his good deed, the Queen Mother of the West gave Hou Yi an immortality elixir (in some versions of the story, it is a pill). Hou Yi shot down nine of the suns, leaving only one sun to light the world. The ten suns scorched the earth, burning crops and water up, and people suffered.
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The Mid Autumn Festival originates from a Chinese folk tale known as “Chang’e Flying to the Moon.” Long, long ago, Chang’e and her husband Hou Yi lived in a China that suffered under the heat of ten suns. Read on to discover the festival’s origins, traditions, and exactly how many calories are in a mooncake (hint: much more than you’d think!). Today, Chinese celebrate the festival by gathering with family members, feasting together, and eating mooncakes. It's fascinating how I remember the social aspects more than the material aspects of this festival, and special memories like these should be treasured.What is the Mid Autumn Festival, and why is it an important Chinese holiday? Also known as the Mooncake Festival, this traditional holiday has a long history in China and many delicious time-honored traditions. Perhaps it's the shift of a newer generation and a different culture, but don't lose touch. Large get-togethers like these seem to be becoming increasingly rare as I get older. Throughout all the festivities, I think it's important to step back and appreciate these moments with the whole family. If you ever try moon cake, my word of advice is don't eat it all at once the cake is very rich! Admittedly, I haven't always liked it, I actually used to grimace at the texture, but this food is probably acquired taste. My favorite part of this festival, excluding catching up with cousins, is moon cake. It is on this night that the moon is the roundest and I still carry fond memories of looking at the moon with my parents on the back verandah of my house and commenting on how it was as round as a wheel of cheese. This holiday falls on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese Lunar Calendar. Though my family don't share the spiritual customs associated with this festival, we still enjoy taking the time to get together, take a night off, and celebrate our relationships. I live in Australia, but my whole family is from China, so this holiday has been significant since I was young. Today as of writing this post, many people around the world are celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival.
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