Mid-Autumn Festival

Chinese folklore and history give us two different accounts on how the Mid-Autumn Festival or Mooncake Festival came about. One version tells the legendary story of a Chang Er, who, in her attempt to deny her husband’s murderer from getting hold of the couple’s hidden elixir of immortality, drank it and escaped by flying to the moon. It is believed that one could see Chang Er on the moon when it is on its brightest which usually happens on the fifteenth day of the eight month in the lunar calendar. The second version commemorates the patriot Zhu Yuan Zhang, who plotted to overthrow the tyrannical rule of the Yuan Dynasty in the 14 Century. His plans were said to have been passed to his comrades through strips of paper hidden in mooncakes.

In the early celebration of those two accounts, families and friends shared moon-shaped pastries, which commonly had sweet fillings of lotus seed paste and salted egg yolk. Today mooncakes come in a variety of flavours to cater to every palate.

The festival is also celebrated with the traditional display of lanterns, presumably in reference to the moon as a source of light and awe. The carrying of lanterns too has become a traditional enjoyment at family reunions during this period.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Today is a rainy day, supposed to meet up mei & family around 6+pm at punggol park for our little boys to carry lantern but weather don look good. We pushed back our schedule and meet around 7+pm, had our dinner at KPT kopitiam "zichar" near punggol park. While having our dinner, rain stopped, yeah :) We then proceed to punggol park to have fun. Melcolm is not interested in carrying lanterns at all. Instead, he prefer to blow off the candles and play with the sparkles, faintz. It was very crowded mostly with kids and families. It was indeed a day for family and even friends to gather together. We had lots of fun !

*Ayden can carry lantern so well, Melcolm only want the sparkles & candles*

*we celebrate again next yr ok?*