Everything About Mid-Autumn Festival

July 7, 2022

Which countries celebrate the Moon festival?

The mid-autumn festival originated in China and is now celebrated in some Asian countries. It is majorly observed in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau. Festivals similar to the mid-autumn festival are celebrated all over southeast Asian countries. The mid-autumn festival in Philippines is just as grand as in Mainland China. It was first observed when ancient Chinese emperors started worshipping the moon at a specific time on the calendar and after some time this phenomenon gained popularity and went on to become the Moon Festival as it is celebrated in present times.

Is there mid-autumn festival in Philippines?

Yes, there is a mid-autumn festival in Philippines. It is celebrated by the Chinese people overseas and lasts for over 2 days. The bridges and decorations are filled with fluttering streamers and lanterns. There are parades, mooncakes and a variety of things to enjoy over this extended celebration of 2 days. The mid-autumn festival in Philippines is celebrated with equal enthusiasm and joy as it is in other celebrating countries.

What is Jade Rabbit Famously Known for on the Moon?

The Jade Rabbit is known for pounding the elixir of life in a mortar and pestle for the immortals. He is known as the symbol of sacrifice, piety and selflessness. He is known widely across the countries as the Jade Rabbit Moon reward for his sacrifice and consideration.

How many Jade Rabbits are on the Moon?

There are about 10 Jade Rabbits on the moon.

Why is the Jade Rabbit on the Moon?

The Jade Rabbit Moon reward is a very famous tale. He is also said to be keeping company with the Moon Goddess, Chang’e while pounding medicine for her.

What is the story about the rabbit in the moon?

It is said that a king dressed in disguise went to the forest. There, he stumbled upon some animals among which there was a rabbit. He asked those animals for food and each of the animals found something for the disguised king to eat but having only the ability to find

grass, the rabbit jumped into a fire, therefore, offering himself as food. The rabbit’s selflessness and generosity impressed the king and thereafter was sent to the moon as a reward. This is the moon festival Jade Rabbit story. The rabbit is also said to have met the Moon Goddess, Chang’e and helped her in making the elixir of life.

What is Japanese moon rabbit?

The Japanese moon rabbit is called Tsuki no Usagi. This name translates to moon rabbit. In Japanese culture, the moon rabbit mochi is what most children and adults associate the story with. According to famous folklore, the moon rabbit makes mochi on the moon with a mortar and pestle.

What does the moon rabbit symbolize?

The Japanese moon rabbit mochi symbolizes advancement, self-devotion, luck and ambition.

What does the rabbit symbolize in Japanese culture?

Rabbits are considered very lucky in Japan as they hop through the fields freely and are associated with spring. The Japanese moon rabbit mochi on the day of the full moon practices charity and tells that one will earn a great reward if one shows great virtue.

What is the famous Chinese Moon Festival Legend?

According to Chinese moon festival legends, once upon a time, 10 suns came up in the sky and their collective heat was scorching the crops and life on earth. To help tackle this situation, the emperor of heaven asked Hou Yi to take down 9 of the suns and help restore the balance on earth. As a reward, the emperor gave Hou Yi the elixir of immortality which he refused to consume without his wife. One of Hou Yi’s students attempted to steal the elixir in his absence, to prevent him from doing so, Chang’e, Hou Yi’s wife, consumed the elixir and was flown to the moon and became the Moon Goddess. After gaining knowledge of this incident, Hou Yi laid down Chang’e’s favourite dishes to offer her. This is the legend of the Moon festival.

What is the legend of Chang’e?

Chang’e, according to the legend of the moon festival sought refuge on the moon after she consumed the immortality elixir. She is said to have powers of manipulation through illusions. She produces illusions of a mother in the chamber of exquisite sadness along with Fei Fei’s rocket.

What is the popular legend surround mid-autumn festival?

Three legends surround the mid-autumn festival. The first and the most popular legend is the tale of Hou Yi and Chang’e where Hou Yi takes down 9 suns and is given the elixir of immortality by the Emperor of Heaven. The second tale is the tale of the Jade Rabbit who is blessed with immortality after he shows how altruistic and selfless he is. And the third tale is

the story of the woodcutter, Wu Gang. According to the mid-autumn festival legends, Wu gang was greedy but also lazy. The Jade emperor wanted to punish him and hence he created a cherry bay tree and told Wu Gang that if he managed to cut down the tree, he would become immortal. In this process, the Jade Emperor did not mention that with every hit and cut to the tree, the part of the tree would heal, leaving Wu gang to do his bidding in vain.

Who are the main characters in the mid-autumn festival?

According to the mid-autumn festival legends, the main characters in the mid-autumn festival are Chang’e (the Moon Goddess) and her husband Hou Yi (The Lord Archer), the Jade Rabbit and Wu Gang. These are the characters that the legends revolve around, hence they play very important roles.

What do Moon Festival people eat?

The most famous dish made during the moon festival is mooncakes. There are many varieties of mooncakes available. The moon cakes are eaten with traditional Chinese tea. Each dish made on the occasion of the moon festival holds a specific meaning. The other moon festival food is buffalo nut, duck, pomelo, edamame, taro, crab, lotus root, pear and liquor.

What do you serve at the mooncake festival?

The moon festival food on the occasion of the mooncake festival is duck meat, taro, wine-infused or fermented with osmanthus flowers, hairy crabs, river snails and pumpkins. These are the most popular and common dishes found at the festival and are enjoyed by all the citizens.

Why do we eat mooncakes on the moon festival?

In Chinese culture, the full moon represents prosperity and the reunion of the family and roundness represents togetherness. Hence eating round mooncakes on the day of the moon festival complement the night sky on the night of the harvest or the mid-autumn festival.

What food is eaten during the mid-autumn festival?

The mid-autumn festival foods include many dishes among which the most popular dish is mooncakes. Mooncakes as of today are available in many flavours and have many different fillings inside. Other than mooncakes, the wine fermented with osmanthus flowers and glazed mushrooms, blanched green vegetables, persimmons, taro, hairy crabs, sweet potatoes and nuts are also consumed. These mid-autumn festival foods are highly nutritious and have a reason for consumption. Each dish symbolizes a cause and to redeem the blessings, these foods are eaten.

Why do people eat duck on mid-autumn festival?

Among the many mid-autumn festival dishes, duck is one of the most enjoyed dishes. The custom of eating and offering duck at the mid-autumn festival came from a signal created during the uprising of the Yuan dynasty. To fight the Mongolians who the Chinese people then called Da zi, which sounds like the pronunciation of duck in Chinese (Ya Zi), the soldiers came up with a secret signal that said ‘eat the duck on the mid-autumn festival. This signal meant ‘to defeat the Mongolians on the mid-autumn festival. Therefore, eating duck during the mid-autumn festival now means keeping away the oppressor.

What is traditional food for mid-autumn festival?

The mid-autumn festival food traditions include a variety of foods but some have always been eaten for centuries. The first and foremost dish is mooncakes, filled with different fillings, these mooncakes have always been a favourite for the people. Taro is also a very popular and common food eaten during the festival. To signify the defeat of the enemy and keep away the oppressor, duck is also among the mid-autumn festival food traditions. Pomelo, lotus root and pumpkin are also included on the list.

What fruit do you eat on mid-autumn festival?

The fruits on the list of traditional foods are pomelo, watermelon, pears and pumpkin. These mid-autumn festival food traditions have included all the foods with high nutritional value to maintain the taste-to-health ratio.

What is the traditional Chinese way to eat mooncakes?

Mooncakes are the most popular Chinese moon festival foods. A typical mooncake is a pastry with a thin crust and a thick filling of red bean paste or lotus seed paste. Mooncakes can also contain yolks from salted duck eggs. They are eaten by firstly being divided into four equal wedges. They are then eaten accompanied by traditional Chinese tea.

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