Every year, on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar, when the moon is at its brightest for the year, the Chinese celebrate zhong qiu jie – the Mooncake Festival.
A typical mooncake is round or rectangular and contains a thick pastry including the yolk of salted egg to symbolize the moon. It is coated with a relatively thin crust. Chinese families traditionally gather outside their homes to admire the moon while partaking of mooncakes. The Chinese delicacy is rich, heavy, and dense, compared to most Western cakes and pastries.
There are various accounts as to the origin of the festival. One story usually told to children is about a moon fairy who lived in a crystal palace, who came out to dance on the moon’s shadowed surface.
The legend dates back to ancient times, to a day when ten suns appeared simultaneously in the sky.
The story says that the Emperor ordered a famous archer to shoot down the nine extra suns. When the task was accomplished, the Goddess of Western Heaven rewarded the archer with a pill that would make him immortal. However, his wife found the pill, took it, and was banished to the moon. It is believed that her beauty is at its fairest on the day of the Moon Festival.
Another legend tells of a “Man on the Moon” who was spotted at an inn, carrying a writing tablet, who claimed to be recording the names of all the happy couples who were fated to marry and live happily ever after. Accordingly, many Chinese weddings are held during the 8th lunar month, with the 15th day being the most popular date.
The most popular legend, however, is related to Chinese history. It says that during the Yuan dynasty (A.D. 1280-1368), China was ruled by a Mongolian emperor. Leaders from the preceding Sung dynasty (A.D. 960-1280) were unhappy at submitting to foreign rule, and set out to coordinate a rebellion. The leaders of the rebellion, knowing that the Moon Festival was drawing near, ordered the making of special cakes. Hidden in each mooncake was a message containing a plan for the attack. On the night of the Moon Festival, the rebels successfully attacked and overthrew the government.
Today, Chinese families celebrate the festival with dances, feasts, moon-gazing, and partaking of mooncake sliced in small wedges with Chinese tea.
We extend our greetings to the Chinese worldwide, especially our Chinese brothers and sisters in the Philippines, on the occasion of their Mooncake Festival, a celebration that many of us who are non-Chinese have grown accustomed to and also look forward to and celebrate.
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