

This year, C huseok is being observed from Sept. The day before and after are also public holidays in South Korea, which allows people time to travel home. Many go back to their hometowns to celebrate with big family reunions and hold memorial services, called charye, for their ancestors. The Emperor of China worshipped the moon for successful harvests on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar with a full moon at night. Not only do they taste delicious and make a great post-feast dessert, but it is also symbolic in reflecting the tradition of families being together during the festival as the character 'yuen', is. It’s one of the country’s biggest and most important holidays, alongside Seollal, or lunar new year. Mid-Autumn Festival marks the turning of the seasons, from summer to autumn, and everyone harvests their once abundance home gardens to turn over the soil to prepare for the colder months ahead. South Koreans celebrate Chuseok, also known as hangawi, at this time. In Hunan province, women from the Dong ethnic group customarily steal vegetables-because according to legend the moon goddess will shower “sweet dew” on them and whoever consumes them will be healthy and happy. Although the Chinese lunar calendar is not used in Japanany more, the custom of moon appreciation is kept in many places of the country. Something fresh from your kitchen will taste so much better than a plastic-wrapped mooncake that’s been sitting around for weeks or even months. Freshly made mooncakes will beat the store bought ones in any contest. The mid-autumn moon is full, and families with mooncakes in hand are harmonious, happy, and healthy.

They symbolize the moon and family unity. In eastern China’s Zhejiang province, the Qiantang River’s tidal bore attracts many visitors. Mooncakes are probably the most famous of all Mid-Autumn Festival foods. Some regions have specific Moon Festival customs. Jade Rabbit Story One day, the Jade Emperor wanted to test the virtue of animals. Since then, worshipping the moon and eating moon cakes became a tradition of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Single-use glow sticks are also common-leading to appeals from environmentalists for curbs on their use. When local people heard the story of Chang'e, they offer moon cakes and fresh fruits to the moon to worshipping the Moon Goddess Chang'e. Most children carry around the battery-powered variety. These days, the candle-lit paper lanterns of yore are rarely seen. The pastries are eaten around the time when the moon is. Lanterns play an important role in the festivities. Mooncakes are the hallmark food of the Mid-Autumn Festival, a cultural and religious holiday that is celebrated during the fall harvest.
