Mid-Autumn Festival Plans?

[weiaijiayou]

Mid-Autumn Day is coming up on October 3. I was wondering if anyone here (especially people living in the US) has any special plans or ideas about where to take the wife or how to celebrate. Did anyone ever buy mooncakes online? Do you have any suggestions about where to get good ones?

 

We missed the Dragon Boat Festival last time (too much excitement since she was just getting acquainted with life in the US) so I want to arrange something special for the Mid-Autumn Festival, preferably without her being aware in advance.

[Batmaniac]

We found some moon cakes at the Chinese grocery store. They are in nice little tins with pictures of Chinese girls on the lids and packed 4 to a box. We split one already. They even had special bags for them.

[knloregon]

weiaijiayou, where are you located? As for moon cakes, go local if possible.... Several years ago, here in Portland, when one of the local Chinese bakeries first started making moon cakes, it was sort of a rite of passage---that the Chinese community had arrived.

 

not a big moon cake fan, but fresh baked beats mail order every time.... and of course, there was the famous moon cake corruption case in China---(now at least 6 or 8 years ago) ---- which caused national outrage----repackaging the same cakes, year after year to clear the inventory........ couldn't finish before they got caught....

[A Mafan]

As I understand it, Mid-Autumn Festival is sort of like the Chinese version of Thanksgiving, i.e., when family really tries to come together.

 

If you are together, you grab the mooncakes and go outside and watch the moon while eating them together. If you are apart you eat the mooncakes while looking at the same moon together while talking on the phone.

 

At least, that's what my wife and I did at her suggestion, but maybe different families have different tradition.

[chilton747]

Bought the mooncakes at the local Chinese grocery but only because I wanted them. The wife does not care for the tradition.

[george lee]

some facts about moon cake and mid-autumn festival:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_cake

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Autumn_Festival

[knloregon]

"...Bought the mooncakes at the local Chinese grocery but only because I wanted them. The wife does not care for the tradition...." Now there's keeping hope alive, Chilton ~! ---at least there're fresh..

 

I guess the western equivalent would be if she bought you a fruit cake at Christmas......

[chilton747]

"...Bought the mooncakes at the local Chinese grocery but only because I wanted them. The wife does not care for the tradition...." Now there's keeping hope alive, Chilton ~! ---at least there're fresh..

 

I guess the western equivalent would be if she bought you a fruit cake at Christmas......

 

A fruitcake from Claxton, GA that is.

[Guest Tony n Terrific]

Stories of the Mid-Autumn Festival

 

Houyi and Chang'e

 

The story of the fateful night when Chang'e was lifted up to the moon, familiar to most Chinese citizens, is a favorite subject of poets. Unlike many lunar deities in other cultures who personify the moon, Chang'e lives on the moon. Tradition places Houyi and Chang'e around 2170 BC, in the reign of the legendary Emperor Yao, shortly after that of Huang Di.

 

 

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/39/Moon_Cakes.jpg/240px-Moon_Cakes.jpg

[dnoblett]

We will be going to the Mid Autumn Festival Celebration at the U of R

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2655/3930071808_67353acd2a_o.jpg

 

 

http://home.cssaur.net/index.php?option=co...82&Itemid=2

 

http://rocmaf2009.blogspot.com/

[david_dawei]

http://www.regit.com/hongkong/festival/mooncake.htm

 

It is generally conceded that Neil Armstrong , the American astronaut, was the first man on moon ( he made that historic landing in 1969). But that's not necessarily the truth to Chinese, who believe that the first people on the moon was a beautiful woman who lived during the Hsia dynasty (2205-1766BC)

. . .

There is a saying in Chinese that marriages are made in heaven and prepared on the moon.

. . .

To celebrate this sighting of the moon, red plastic lanterns wrought in traditional styles and embellished with traditional motifs are prepared for the occasion.

 

 

also see this video:

http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide...mn-festival.htm

Edited September 22, 2009 by DavidZixuan (see edit history)

[dnoblett]

http://www.regit.com/hongkong/festival/mooncake.htm

 

It is generally conceded that Neil Armstrong , the American astronaut, was the first man on moon ( he made that historic landing in 1969). But that's not necessarily the truth to Chinese, who believe that the first people on the moon was a beautiful woman who lived during the Hsia dynasty (2205-1766BC)

. . .

There is a saying in Chinese that marriages are made in heaven and prepared on the moon.

. . .

To celebrate this sighting of the moon, red plastic lanterns wrought in traditional styles and embellished with traditional motifs are prepared for the occasion.

 

 

also see this video:

http://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide...mn-festival.htm

Nice video! Now I want to visit Guilin again! I have used China Highlights as my in-country travel agent they are truly the best. China Highlights is based in Guilin.

[Jaseball]

Come on, I don't like moon cakes that much, but they are far, far better than fruit cakes.

[knloregon]

Hey Dan,

 

What do you know about Wenzhang Cui ~? ---the designer of the U R mid-autumn festival poster----this is rather spectacular work..

 

Any info would be much appreciated...

[tonado]

http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin/en...s/lanternes.htm

 

Check out THE MAGIC OF LANTERNS in Montreal. It is very nice.