Friday, September 13 marked the Mid-Autumn Festival, a national holiday in China called, Zhōngqiūjié (中秋节). The date of the festival is tied to the lunar calendar in celebration of the harvest and is celebrated on the autumn full moon. The round moon is a symbol of harmony and unity.
This year, Chinese classes gathered during lunch to enjoy mooncakes, sing a traditional song, and listen to a few of their peers describe their families’ Mid-Autumn festival traditions on this culturally important day.
Mooncakes, eaten during this festival, are round to symbolize the full moon, consist of a rich filling made from sweet bean paste or lotus seed paste, surrounded by a thin crust. The traditional song is called, “The Moon Represents my Heart,” Yuèliang Dàibiǎo wǒ de xīn (月亮代表我的心). Some of the traditions that some students described included, gathering with family on their apartment rooftop to enjoy the full moon, skyping with family members who could not make the trip home for the holiday, and enjoying mooncakes at a Chinese restaurant with family and friends.
January 12, 2017
May 27, 2021
Stay up to date! Receive email notifications whenever a new blog article is published.
"*" indicates required fields