4/9/2023 0 Comments Mid autumn festival![]() There are also many different versions of each story, but the common theme in all of them is the focus on the moon. Today, this love story is one of many that help explain the mythical origins of Mid-Autumn Festival. "This is the significance of the moon and the romanticism associated with it." "Could you imagine if you love somebody and you only get to meet once a year?" said Chen. He’d prepare a table with incense and his wife’s favorite foods, in hopes that she would see them from her perch on the moon and one day return home. In an attempt to see his wife once again, Hou Yi began an annual tradition when the moon was at its brightest. While becoming immortal saved her from an evil man, it ended her life with her beloved husband, who was left alone and heartbroken. ![]() Hou Yi was devastated when he learned about what happened to Chang’e. The full moon is seen during the Mid-Autumn Festival in 2015 in Zaozhuang, Shandong Province of China. At that moment, her body began to float and ascend high into the heavens until she landed on the moon. To prevent the elixir from falling into the wrong hands, Chang’e decided to drink it. On one fateful day, when Chang’e was alone at home, a man wielding a sword came by and tried to force her to hand him the elixir. Word spread about the elixir of immortality, and it attracted some evil attention. So rather than drink the elixir, he gave it to Chang’e to treasure and keep safe. But by relinquishing his mortality, Hou Yi would also have to leave his beloved wife, Chang’e. In fact, the goddess of heaven gifted Hou Yi an elixir that would make him immortal and allow him to join the gods, should he choose to drink it. This heroic feat brought Hou Yi into the good graces of the gods. Hou Yi shot nine out of the sky, leaving the one sun we know today. One of the gods asked Hou Yi, an archer, to save the planet by shooting down some of the suns. The many suns scorched the Earth's surface, bringing drought to the land, destroying crop yields and causing death and poverty. The planet looked different, with the gods reigning supreme and the sky burning with the fury of ten suns. The outside layer of the mooncake is another dough made with cake flour.The moon rises over a tower during Mid-Autumn Festival on Septemin Tai'an, Shandong Province of China. Another traditional filling is mixed nuts and dried fruit. Some popular savoury fillings include ham, Chinese sausage, roast pork and radish. Typical sweet fillings include sweet bean paste, lotus seed paste or red date (jujube) paste that envelops one or more mini salted, cured duck egg yolks. Traditional Chinese mooncakes, specifically Cantonese-style mooncakes, are baked, golden-brown and moulded or stamped on top with the name of the filling. They are primarily round, to reflect the shape of the moon, but can also be square-shaped. Mooncakes are a type of snack or dessert pastry with a sweet or savoury filling. ![]() They’re given as gifts to family members, friends, neighbours, co-workers and employees, a traditional gesture that accompanies family gatherings and public celebrations. The pastries are eaten around the time when the moon is supposedly at its fullest and brightest. Mooncakes are the iconic food of the Mid-Autumn Festival. ![]() How is it celebrated?Īctivities include Fire Dragon dancing, enjoying the displays of lanterns, and eating moon cakes. Upon hearing this, people developed the custom of watching the moon and eating moon cakes annually on this day. He hurriedly took cakes and succade (preserves in sugar, whether fruits, vegetables, or confections) as offerings to his wife. Looking up at the moon one night, he saw a figure like his wife. Knowing that his wife had now been separated from him, Hou Yi was crazed with grief. She flew to the moon, and from there watched her husband. Unfortunately, Hou Yi's disloyal apprentice forced Chang Er to swallow the elixir. He did not want to consume the elixir and leave his beautiful but very mortal wife, Chang Er, so he gave the elixir to his wife for safekeeping. He was then bestowed with the elixir of immortality by the Queen Mother of the West. A hero names Hou Yi saved his people by shooting down the other nine suns that burned his people to death. The Mid-Autumn Festival, or the Mooncake Festival as it is commonly known in Singapore, is celebrated by Chinese communities all around the world. This festival originated in a fairy tale. If the day after Mid Autumn Festival holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday will be a national holiday in Hong Kong. ![]() The Mid Autumn festival starts on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |