This festival takes place on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, also called the "Moon Festival" because it always falls on a full moon night. It is the second major holiday in the Chinese calendar after the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year).

• Traditional Chinese: 中秋節
• Simplified Chinese: 中秋节
• Pinyin: Zhōngqiùjié

The Mid-Autumn Festival is an occasion to bring the entire family together, as the evening of the 15th day of the eighth lunar month is synonymous with a full moon—the symbol of family unity. Though in modern times this is somewhat less true due to distances separating certain families.

The Moon Festival can also be viewed as a synthesis of an ancient lunar cult and an agricultural celebration. Farmers took this opportunity to seek the favor of the God of the Soil in hopes of a bountiful harvest to come.

During Zhong Qiu Jie, Chinese people traditionally exchange 月饼 (yue bing), those delicious pastries also known as moon cakes. Several legends surround these cakes, one of the most well-known being the following:

Under the Tang Dynasty (618–901), Emperor Li Shimin sent General Li Jing to fight the Tujue. Upon his victorious return after several months, he entered the capital Chang'an where he was welcomed as a hero. A local merchant is said to have crafted special pastries for the Emperor, who then encouraged his ministers to eat them as a way to invite the moon...

Another popular tradition indicates that the Han people used these cakes to pass messages to one another during the rule of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty, which would later lead to the rise of the Ming.

The moon cake (yue bing) thus possesses an almost mystical history. While it first appeared during the Tang Dynasty, it became truly popular under the Song, as evidenced by verses from the Northern Song poet Su Dong Po: "Little cakes as if you were tasting the moon: the inside is both crispy and sweet." Far removed from the Song Dynasty, the recipe has evolved and taken many forms. However, the most prized are those from Canton, as they are less fatty and very sweet.

The Legend of Chang'e

In a mythical age, ten suns surrounded the earth and lit it in turn. Until one day all ten suns rose together, creating an unprecedented period of drought and chaos.

The courageous Hou Xin shot down nine suns with his bow, allowing life to resume its normal course... Becoming king, the hero gradually became a tyrant with boundless ambitions. He stole an elixir of eternal life from the Queen Mother of Heaven. His wife Chang'e, to save the people, drank the potion herself and flew to the moon. Too much in love, Hou Xin never sought to reach the moon.

Even today, the Mid-Autumn Festival is therefore an opportunity to pay homage to Chang'e. This legend may explain why it is exclusively women who take care of the festival preparations.

Activities of the Lunar Festival

As its name suggests, the Mid-Autumn Festival or Moon Festival centers on the earth's natural satellite. Two things are primarily to be considered: on one hand, autumn is for many Chinese people the most beautiful season of the year because of its most pleasant climate. On the other hand, the moon is associated with several essential Chinese values such as family reunion, and it symbolizes femininity.

Former times in rural areas, the Mid-Autumn Festival was an occasion to predict the matrimonial future of young girls by having them pluck a vegetable plant in the darkness. Depending on what the young woman found, one could determine whether she would be happy or not in love...

Nowadays, the Mid-Autumn Festival essentially consists of gathering with family and eating moon cakes together. Admiring the moon (shang yue 賞月) or taking a walk beneath the celestial body (zou yue 走月) are also important. Due to the favorable climate prevailing during this period, many celebrate the event outdoors, via a picnic or barbecue. The latter practice is so popular in Taiwan that the authorities are concerned and trying to curb it (risk of pollution or fire).

In the streets, one can often observe dragon dances and lantern parades: the carp represents success, the butterfly longevity, and the moon wisdom.

Dates of the Mid-Autumn Festival

• September 27, 2015
• September 15, 2016
• October 4, 2017
• September 24, 2018
• September 13, 2019
• October 1, 2020
• September 21, 2021
• September 22, 2022

The Composition of Moon Cakes

The dough is generally composed of flour, syrup, peanut oil, egg, and alkaline water. The proportions depend on the consistency of the dough desired. The filling can then be savory or sweet, depending on the gourmet's preference. Many different recipes exist.

Example Recipe for Moon Cakes (makes 14 cakes)

For the dough:

• 200g flour
• 10g leavening agent
• 110g sugar
• 60g lard

For the egg wash:

• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tablespoon milk

For the filling:

• 450g soybean paste
• 100g chopped dates
• 2 tablespoons almond liqueur
• 1 tablespoon glutinous rice flour
• 50g chopped almonds
• 60g sesame seeds
• 80g chopped walnuts
• 30g raisins
• 30g pumpkin seeds

Tools:

• 1 round or square moon cake mold of your choice
• 1 rolling pin