The Mid-Autumn Festival （中秋节）, or widely known as Mooncake Festival, is one of the major festivals of the Chinese people aside from Chinese New Year and Winter Solstice. Falls on the 15th of the eighth month in the lunar calendar, the event is widely celebrated in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.
On that day, the moon is said to be the fullest and the roundest, symbolising the reunion and togetherness of families. Family members usually gather to have a sumptuous dinner. Later at night, they will admire the bright moon while having some special seasonal food, particularly mooncakes and water caltrop (buffalo nut or kacang tanduk), along with pomelo, melon seeds and steamed mini yam.
Families also conduct prayer to the moon, a type of ancient custom. A table with the seasonal food mentioned above as offerings is laid out. When the moon comes out, all the family members light up joss sticks and pray. Young ladies pray to Chang’e with flowers and makeup, asking to be blessed with her beauty as well. Chang’e is an immortal goddess that resides in the moon in Chinese folklore. However, these practices are getting rare among the younger generation nowadays.
As it is the only time in a year when children are permitted to play with lanterns, they normally stay up late for the occasion. There is a wide variety of lanterns ranging from traditional paper types, glass paper types to the modern battery-operated plastic varieties modelled after famous cartoon characters available. One will be spoiled for the choices offered. Most of the time, children lit up candles for the lanterns as well as surrounding the house gates and fences, resulting a dazzling and scenic view of lights.
From the past few years, lantern processions are getting more popular. The participants of different races and ages take part in the walk by holding lanterns of various designs and shapes. Some shopping malls also organise lantern making contest prior to the occasion. Besides, there are lantern-guessing games (猜灯谜). Riddles based on traditional poetry, history or culture are written on pieces of paper and tied to the bottoms of each lantern. Those who manage to give the correct answers will walk away with the corresponding lanterns.
