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| Alyssa and Chyanne said YUM...and a forced smile from sweet Serena! |
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| Charlie and Erber scarfed their mooncakes! |
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| Politely tasting the treat.... |
Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar, which is in September or October in the Gregorian Calendar. It is a date that parallels the Autumn Equinox in the Solar Calendar. The Moon Festival is a celebration enjoyed by people around the globe. It dates back to over 1,000 years. Farmers celebrate the end of the summer harvest. And together families enjoy the bright harvest moon (not too visible right now!) and eat mooncakes under the moon.
Some say the celebration is derived from a legend about the lady in the moon. As the story goes, a famous archer shot down 9 out of 10 suns burning up the earth upon orders from the Emperor. Because of his heroic feat, the archer was given an elixir of immortality. An evil villager tried to steal the archer's elixir, but the archer's wife stopped him by drinking it herself and escaped to the moon. Legend says she remains in the moon, waiting to be reunited with the husband. For generations now, little pastries known as mooncakes have been prepared to mark the holiday. The mooncakes are made with sweet fillings (like the archer's sweet wife!).
Here's some information about Autumn Moon Festival celebrations here in Portland:
At the Lan Su Chinese Gardens:
http://www.lansugarden.org/events_classes/under_the_autumn_moon
Evening Celebrations in China Town:
http://www.pdxchinatown.org/
Until the next surprise visit......
