Mid Autumn Festival

"Gazing at the full moon, no matter where we are;

We are all connected as we enjoy this special moment."

Credit: NewsGD

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• held on the fifteenth day of the Eight Moon
• the second most popular celebration in China (the first place is occupied by the New Year Festival)
• origins: the Tang Dynasty; watching the Moon by Chinese leaders; children carrying animal-shaped lanterns lit by candles.
• lanterns are the most important part of the celebraion today; they are in all possible shapes and made of a veriety of materials
• in the evening people take their lanterns and go outside, so that all the area looks like a sky on a cloudless night, lit by the stars
• children and young people carry their lamps lightning the way for adults
• another important part of the festivities are "mooncakes", dating back to the 14th century. During the revolut against the mongols war messages were baked in cakes and smuggled to the revolutionsists
• nowadays, the mooncakes are given to family and friends during the festival
• mooncakes are a mixture of ground lotus,mashed beans, sesame seeds and dates

Credit: China Daily

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-01/09/xin_b5773c88e7b249c281aa1ceb579c9167_yuebing.jpg

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