My favourite Chinese festival…
…revolves around eating copious amounts of pastries called mooncakes, carrying lanterns and playing with sparklers. This takes place during the mid autumn festival which is a literal translation of it Chinese name 中秋节.
There are many origins to this festival, but the one I know best is that of Chang-e, also known as that lady who lives on the moon. Chang-e was the wife of Hou Yi, an archer who had saved the world by shooting down nine of the ten suns (a story for another day). As such, he was made emperor but power corrupts, and he became a tyrant. Obsessed with immortality, he found an elixir so he could live forever. Chang-e fearing for the people, stole the elixir but was discovered by Hou Yi. To escape, she leapt from the balcony, and flew to the moon.
The other amusing part to this tale, is that Chang-e has a companion on the moon called Jade Rabbit, who is literally, a rabbit.
In Singapore, during this period, mooncakes are a dime a dozen, and they come in all shapes and flavours. Besides the traditional baked pastries with lotus paste filling, there is also a snowskin version which usually has various avant-garde flavours, particularly given the competitiveness of the offerings.
My parents, being traditionalists, prefer baked mooncakes with mixed nuts. I have a soft spot for snowskin ones, and got myself a bubble tea flavoured one this year from Chang Ho Sek. It did taste like a cup of milk tea, aromatic and uplifting, though the pearls (yes, there are pearls in it!) left much to be desired.
Aside from feasting, as kids, we would also head down to the parks with our lanterns and set the place ablaze with our sparklers. I see much less people doing that these days, but it's something I think back very fondly of.
I have also neglected to mention that the main star (yes, scientifically inaccurate) of this event is the full moon, and since it's usually at its fullest during this period, it is also tradition to have a cup of tea whilst admiring the moon.
Excuse me while I go back to stuffing my face with mooncakes.
There are many origins to this festival, but the one I know best is that of Chang-e, also known as that lady who lives on the moon. Chang-e was the wife of Hou Yi, an archer who had saved the world by shooting down nine of the ten suns (a story for another day). As such, he was made emperor but power corrupts, and he became a tyrant. Obsessed with immortality, he found an elixir so he could live forever. Chang-e fearing for the people, stole the elixir but was discovered by Hou Yi. To escape, she leapt from the balcony, and flew to the moon.
The other amusing part to this tale, is that Chang-e has a companion on the moon called Jade Rabbit, who is literally, a rabbit.
In Singapore, during this period, mooncakes are a dime a dozen, and they come in all shapes and flavours. Besides the traditional baked pastries with lotus paste filling, there is also a snowskin version which usually has various avant-garde flavours, particularly given the competitiveness of the offerings.
My parents, being traditionalists, prefer baked mooncakes with mixed nuts. I have a soft spot for snowskin ones, and got myself a bubble tea flavoured one this year from Chang Ho Sek. It did taste like a cup of milk tea, aromatic and uplifting, though the pearls (yes, there are pearls in it!) left much to be desired.
Aside from feasting, as kids, we would also head down to the parks with our lanterns and set the place ablaze with our sparklers. I see much less people doing that these days, but it's something I think back very fondly of.
I have also neglected to mention that the main star (yes, scientifically inaccurate) of this event is the full moon, and since it's usually at its fullest during this period, it is also tradition to have a cup of tea whilst admiring the moon.
Excuse me while I go back to stuffing my face with mooncakes.