Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival celebrates the full moon on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, when the moon is believed to be at its brightest and fullest. The festival is deeply connected to the legend of Chang'e, a woman who swallowed an elixir of immortality and ascended to the moon, where she lives for eternity.

Her husband Hou Yi, a legendary archer who shot down nine of ten suns to save the earth, gazes up at the moon every Mid-Autumn to be closer to his beloved wife. The round moon and round mooncakes symbolize completeness, reunion, and family togetherness.

Families gather outdoors to admire the full moon while sharing mooncakes — rich pastries filled with lotus seed paste, red bean paste, or salted egg yolk. Pomelo fruit is another traditional snack. Children carry colorful lanterns through the streets. In some communities, barbecues have become a popular modern tradition. Tea is served alongside mooncakes, and families enjoy the evening together in parks or open spaces.