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[title]This annual harvest festival is also known as the Mooncake Festival (for the mooncakes consumed during this time, but we’ll get to that later). Mid-Autumn is celebrated annually by the Chinese community on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar (September 24 this year), when the moon is at its fullest and brightest.
In Malaysia and Singapore, some may know Mid-Autumn as the Lantern Festival. But in China, the Lantern Festival commemorates the last day of the Chinese New Year celebrations on the 15th day of the first lunar month. This is also the first full moon night of the Chinese calendar.
Symbolism of the moon
One important element of the Mid-Autumn festival is the moon. The ancient Chinese associated the directional changes of the moon with the changes of the seasons and therefore, the harvest results. It then became common to put out offerings to the moon to give thanks for the harvest, a tradition still practised today.
Another theory is that of a hero, Hou Yi, who shot down nine of the ten suns in the sky and was honoured by the people, becoming their king. However, he became cruel and had an immortality elixir created because he wanted to live forever. His wife, Chang Er, drank it to stop him and escaped to the moon, becoming the Moon Goddess.
Food during Mid-Autumn festival
It wouldn’t be a celebration in Malaysia without lots of food and fun, and the Mid-Autumn festival is no different. Mooncakes are immensely popular during this time, with traditional baked mooncakes with flavours like lotus paste with salted egg yolk frequently making the rounds. The Chinese believe that the yolk represents the full moon in the sky.
Nowadays, there are other varieties available, with the most popular being the non-baked snow skin mooncake. They also come with an assortment of fillings like ice cream, chocolate, durian and even coffee. Alcoholic mooncakes are also available for those who prefer desserts with an extra kick.
Aside from mooncakes, the seasonal water caltrops (ling kok) are also common snacks found in households. These bat-lookalike snacks are believed to be lucky, as part of the Chinese character for bat sounds similar to the Chinese word for luck, fu. Other common types of food consumed during the Mid-Autumn festival include duck and yam for balance within the soul and good fortune, respectively.
Traditions and practices
Legend has it that mooncakes were used to pass secret notes to help the Han Chinese overthrow the Mongolian rulers of that time, and then eaten to destroy the message. Presently, it has a lighter message – its round shape symbolises reunion, when friends and family gather around and share mooncakes, or present them as gifts to each other.
Lanterns are also a common sight during the festival. Traditional lanterns were handmade from paper and illuminated with candles, and today that practise is still observed. But some of today’s lanterns come in the form of plastic toys with battery-operated lights and music. An explanation for the significance of this practise is that the light from the lanterns create a soft glow, which complements the surroundings and makes it easier for people to watch the moon.
How it is celebrated
There are a number of ways Malaysians celebrate this festival, and among them are lantern parades or public gatherings in malls, parks or temples. Thean Hou Temple, the largest temple in KL, usually organises lively celebrations and activities like a lantern parade. Plenty of malls also organise lantern displays, dragon dances and musical performances for shoppers to enjoy and participate in as well. Some Taoist families may also hold prayer sessions for luck, health and fortune.