Asian Recipes Online - Moon Cake Festival - Moon cake recipes and stories

The Mid-Autumn Festival (Chung Chiu), commonly known as the Moon Cake Festival, is the third major festival of the Chinese calendar, and is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. Chinese legends say that the moon is at its brightest and roundest on this day, and it was an occasion for the Chinese to hold rituals to greet the cool weather and sacrifice to the Moon Goddess, as well as watching the moon rice and enjoying its full, silvery light.

The moon symbolizes elegance and beauty - the 'yin' or female principle - and it is a trusted friend. Chinese parents often name their daughters after the moon, in hope that they will be as lovely as the moon. Ancient folktales tell the story about a moon maiden. On the 15th night of the 8th lunar moon, little children on earth can see a lady on the moon. And on this magical occasion, children who make wishes to the Lady on the Moon (Chang Er), will find their dreams come true. Families get together to eat moon cakes and celebrate the end of the harvest season. The moon cake, a special kind of sweet cake (yueh ping), prepared in the shape of the moon and filled with sesame seeds, ground lotus seeds and duck eggs is served as a traditional delicacy. Scholars write poems about the moon. This night is also made for romantic rendezvous. Friendships are made and renewed. No wonder the August Moon Festival has a special meaning to all who believe in the mystical powers of the moon

Customs And Traditions

The first custom concerns farmers. China is an agricultural country, and farming is closely related to the seasons. In ancient times, farmers worshipped the Earth God to pray for a good harvest, when they sowed the seeds in spring. This was known as spring worship. During autumn, farmers also worshipped the Earth God to thank him for giving them a good harvest. This was known as autumn reward. Since the 15'" month of the 8th month is the time when rice paddies are harvested, some people believe that the Mid Autumn Festival came from the autumn reward ritual.

The second custom concerns worship of the moon. According to astronomy, the Mid Autumn Festival occurs at the autumn equinox. At this time, the sunlight shines vertically on the equator, equally dividing the day and night in both the southern and northern hemispheres. The moon appears in the evening with gentle winds and light clouds. This is the best time to watch the moon. People later made this day, the day to worship the moon.

Back during the Yuan dynasty (AD 1280-1368), established by the invading Mongolians from the north, the Chinese, subjugated by the Mongols, sought to overthrow the Mongol overlords. As meetings were banned it was impossible to make plans. According to one Chinese folk tale, a Han Chinese rebel leader named Liu Fu Tong of the An Hui Province came up with a plan, to arouse the Han Chinese to rise up against the ruling Mongols to end the oppressive Yuan dynasty.

He sought permission to distribute cakes to his friends to bless the longevity of the Mongol emperor. He made thousands of moon-shaped cakes, stuffed with sweet fillings. Inside each cake, however, was a piece of paper with the message: ‘Rise against the Tartars on the 15^th day of the 8^th Moon’. Reading the message, the people rose against the Mongols on a local scale. This rebellion enabled Chu Hung Wu, another rebel leader to eventually overthrow the Mongols. In 1368, he established the Ming dynasty and ruled under the name of Emperor Tai Tsu. Today, far from the exotic and heroic legends, Chinese communities all over the world make and consume moon cakes during the traditional autumn Moon Festival.

Celebrating the Moon Cake Festival