Happy Full Moon(cake)
Sunday October 3, 2009
Bright blessings of the full moon to all! In the northern hemisphere, today is the Harvest Moon, the full moon closest to the autumn equinox. It is the brightest and most golden of the year, allowing farmers to work through the night to bring the harvest in, and appears to be the biggest.
In China this moon marks the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, known as Chung Chiu or the Mooncake Festival, which is second only to New Year’s in importance. It falls on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the Chinese calendar, and marks the end of the first harvest. It’s celebrated with feasting, festivities, fire-dragon dancing, lanterns, moon gazing and mooncakes, tasty little delicacies that consist of a thin pastry layer surrounding a sweeter filling inside. They symbolise family unity and perfection, and are often embossed with the Chinese characters for longevity or harmony, or decorated with pictures of the moon, flowers, vines, or other harvest images.
Stories are told on this day about the moon fairy who lives in a crystal palace and dances on the surface of the moon, because in China legend tells of the woman in the moon, as opposed to the Western version of the man in the moon.
In Japan, their Harvest Moon folk tales centre around two rabbits who inhabit the moon and pound on rice cakes. On this night they hold moon-viewing events, called Otsukimi. Historically, nobles gathered to feast as they gazed at this moon and created poems in its honour. Today the celebrations continue, with tables set with rice cakes and vegies in gratitude for the harvest. In Vietnam, this moon brings the autumn festival of Tet Trung Thu, a celebration during which children parade through the streets with lanterns, moon cakes are made, and celebrations are held. It honours children and gives parents a chance to take time off and spend it with them after the hard work of bringing in the harvest.
Today the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is celebrated all over the world at this time, even in the southern hemisphere where it’s spring, for the traditions have transcended the seasonal connotations, and the magic of the occasion captures everyone’s imagination.
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