Thursday 05-10-2023 - 15:30

It’s time for my very first SU blog as the Faculty of Education President. I thought it would be appropriate to share with you all something I celebrate as part of my culture and traditions! 

Sometimes referred to as the Harvest Moon Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival took place this year on Friday 29th September 2023. It is celebrated by East and South Asian people to mark the conclusion of the autumn harvest. Families gather to worship the moon and celebrate the harvest on this significant event. The celebration, which has historical roots and is the second-most significant event Chinese holiday after Chinese New Year! 

Let’s look at the history, traditions, and celebrations together! 

History 

This festival is celebrated in many places, including Hong Kong, the hometown of my family, as well as Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated for a variety of reasons around the world but let us focus on how Chinese people commemorate it.  

The celebration of the Harvest Moon festival has been around for more than 3000 years, and its origins may be found with the Chinese emperors who, in the autumn, worshipped the harvest moon and expressed gratitude to the gods in the hopes of reaping a generous harvest the next year.  

There are many different interpretations of the legends of the Harvest Moon Festival, but the most popular one centres on the archer hero Hou Yi (Hoo Yee), who was given an elixir of immortality after destroying nine out of ten suns that had caused drought and catastrophe in the land.  

One of his apprentices, Feng Men, tried to take the elixir, but Hou Yi’s wife, Chang-E prevented that from happening by taking the elixir herself, turning into the Moon Goddess, and descending to the Moon.  

After the husband found out what transpired, Hou Yi would arrange a feast on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar every year, when the moon is thought to be at its fullest, in the hopes of catching a glimpse of his wife’s shadow in the moon.  

Traditions 

According to tradition and literature, a full moon represents completion and is related with family reunions for Chinese people. Some people celebrate by illuminating their houses with lanterns and throw lavish feasts and dance parties. Families gather for Moon gazing which spreads over three days; on the eve of the festival to welcome the moon, the day of the admire and the day after to send the moon off. 

Lanterns are one of the oldest traditions for the festival as for thousands of years, communities would gather during the holiday to write wishes on the sky lanterns before lighting them in honour of the Moon Goddess to receive a good fortune blessing from her. 

One of the delicacies enjoyed by festival goers are Mooncakes and are eaten in small wedges with family and friends on the festival’s final night. 

Mooncakes can be found in square shapes, although the round shape is more typical and symbolises the harvest moon during the festival. The roundness of the mooncake is symbolic of harmony and togetherness in Chinese culture, so when a full moon appears in the festival night, it signifies good fortune and family reunions.  

The pastry occasionally has a sweet flavour and a soft crust on the outside. Most mooncakes are filled with red beans or lotus seed paste, although some are also made with chicken, duck, ham, pork or mushrooms. My personal favourite must be red bean paste filling with the yolk of an egg in the middle! 

How do I celebrate with my family? 

There are several ways to celebrate this occasion. There are no lavish feasts or dance parties in my house because there is only myself, my sister and my mother. As a family we opt to be a little more discreet and buy one mooncake to spilt among the three of us instead and this is how we celebrate the festival. Doing something like this is very personal, but also helps promotes happiness, respect, and peace within my culture but also gives me an understanding of inclusion and enjoyment between people and communities. 

There are numerous festivals and celebrations that serve as a constant reminder of the value of family time. As the new academic year get under way, I want to remind YOU that EHSU will be your second family whilst you are a student here at the university. Ensure that you do things that makes you happy, no matter how small and little!