Mooncake Festival

THE CULTURE OF

Mooncake Festival

BY NG. D.S.H.

TABLE CONTENTS 03

I NTRODUCTI ON

16

TEA SETS

06

FOLKLORE

22

OTHER DELI CACI ES

09

CELEBRATI ONS

28

CONCLUSI ON

13

MOONCAKES

29

REFERENCE LI ST

Every year on the 5th day of the 8th month in the lunar calendar, with full moon at nigth

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a harvest festival celebrated notably by the Chinese but has over the years been more popular globally. The festival is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar with full moon at night, corresponding to late September to early October of the Gregorian calendar with a full moon at night.

The Meaning of Festival The festival celebrates three fundamental concepts that are closely connected:

Gathering

Thanksgiving

The most imporant, family and friends coming together when the moon is brightest

To be thankful for everything that happened over the years

Praying  Asking for material satisfaction like babies, spouses, beauty, etc...

FOLKLORES MOON

GODDES S

OF

I MMORT AL I T Y J ADE

RABBI T

POUNDER

T HE

EL I XI R

MOON GODDESS Houyi helplessly looking at his wife Chang'e flying off to the moon after she drank the elixir.

During ancient times, there was an excellent archer named Hou Yi. His wife was Chang'e. Yi shot down nine of the suns and leaving one to provide light. A God admired Yi and sent him the elixir of immortality but Yi didn't want to leave Chang'e so he let her keep the elixir.

But his apprentice, Peng Meng betrayed him on the 15th of August in the lunar calendar. Peng Meng failed when Chang'e drank it and flew to the moon for love.

THE JADE RABBIT A companion of the moon goddess Chang'e, constantly pounding the elixir of life for her.

One day, 3 old men who were immortals begged for food from a fox, a monkey and a rabbit. But only the rabbit had no food so he sacrificed himself and said "you can eat me". The immortals were moved sent the rabbit to the moon to become an immortal jade rabbit. Ever since, the jade rabbit stayed in the Moon Palace to accompany Chang E and pounded immortal medicine for those living in the heaven.

Examples of ways to celebrate Mooncake Festival

1

Traditional lantern represents - the wish for a bright future

Sometimes designing lanterns with friends

2

Sky Lanterns Used to signal troops long time ago.

3

Mooncakes [⽉ ].

Mooncake Assortments

How mooncakes are made Red bean or lotus seed paste surrounds a thin (2-3 mm) crust as a rich thick filling.

Some may include yolks from salted duck eggs.

Usually accompanied by tea.

(Shots, 2018)

4

Quality Chinese Tea Set Price: RM250+

TEA SCOOP, 茶 Price: RM100+ USED TO TAKE DRY TEAS OUT FROM TEA BAG OR TIN INTO YOUR GAIWAN OR TEAPOT. (TEAVIVRE.COM, 2018)

TEA FUNNEL, 茶漏 Price: RM120+ A CYLINDRICAL FUNNEL USED TO DIRECT THE FLOW OF TEA INTO YIXING TEAPOT, AND ALSO USED TO PREVENT THE TEA FROM OVERFLOWING. (TEAVIVRE.COM, 2018)

TEA PIN, 茶 Price: RM95+ FOR CLEARING THE SMALL TEA LEAVES WHICH BLOCKING THE FILTER HOLES IN YIXING TEAPOTS, SO THAT THE WATER CAN GO TO THE SPOUT SMOOTHLY. (TEAVIVRE.COM, 2018)

5

Family & Friends Gathering Gathering, Thanksgiving and Praying Together

6

Shopping Enjoy buying many delicacy

Other Delicacies

Cassia Wine Flavored with sweet osmanthus flowers Alcohol content below 20%

Peking Duck Spring onion, cucumber and sweet bean sauce with pancakes rolled around the fillings.

Pumpkins Round and golden appearance brings people good health.

Seafood Red Chut-Chut Snail

Spiky Shellfish

Lobak & Prawns

Curry Fish Head

CONCLUSION Mid-Autumn Festival has been celebrated in many different way for many centuries.

The main delicacy for the festival is Mooncake.

One of the best holiday to get together with friends and familyÂ

Reference List China Highlights. (2018). Mid-Autumn Festival Food (7 Most Popular Chinese Dishes). [online] Available at: https://www.chinahighlights.com/festivals/midautumn-festival-food.htm [Accessed 10 Oct. 2018].

Shots, T. (2018). mooncake | The Inspiration Shots. [online] Theinspirationshots.com. Available at: https://theinspirationshots.com/tag/mooncake/ [Accessed 10 Oct. 2018].

Teavivre.com. (2018). How to Properly Use a Gongfu Ceremonial Tea Set – teavivre. [online] Available at: https://www.teavivre.com/info/how-to-usegongfu-tea-set.html [Accessed 10 Oct. 2018].

Travelchinaguide.com. (2018). Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival Legends, Stories. [online] Available at: https://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/holidays/mid-autumn-legends.htm [Accessed 10 Oct. 2018].