It never fails to be a bright full moon on the 15th of the 8th month of the lunar calendar so my mother claims. Indeed for last night's full moon marked the Chinese tradition of celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival. There are a few legends surrounding the tradition, of which one suggests that Hou Yi, the Divine Archer, was asked to shoot down all but 1 of the 10 suns that scorched the earth. As a reward he was given a Pill of Immortality but his wife, Chang-E took it and floated to the moon where she became the moon fairy.
During the Yuan Dynasty, the Chinese who were oppressed under Mongolian rule, coordinated their rebellion by putting messages into specially baked cakes popularly known as mooncakes. The tradition endured after the successful rebellion and mooncakes of today come in a wide variety of flavours and design. As I am writing this my mouth waters as I dream of the sweet lingering taste of the Pandan with Pumpkin mooncake I savoured the day before.
The Mid-Autumn festival is also a festival of reunion and families try to get together on this special day. The Chinese celebrate the festive occasion by parading colourful ornamented lanterns. There was a mood of cheer as I strolled down Little Guilin Park, just a stone's throw from where I reside. The numerous brightly litted lanterns contrasted against the glowing moon look like fluttering fireflies in the night. It was from the window of my room I was inexplicably drawn by the charisma of the moon and into the park of warm laughter and joy.
The usually peaceful park was filled with incessant chatter of excited families and friends, and children eagerly waving sparklers forming beautiful arcs of fire. Almost every available nook and cranny along the stone ledge, on the big boulders strewn along the landscape of the park, there were tiny candles with dancing flames that in some ways breathed romance in the air. Couples gazing into the lovely moonlight seem to have drifted to a yonder beyond like Chang-E. Children skip and hop about gaily, swinging their lanterns proudly.
The overall atmosphere was wonderful and I felt bliss. The moment while it lasted seemed like a dream... a very pleasant dream.
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