Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Mid Autumn Day/Moon Festival



The traditional Chinese festival, Mid-Autumn festival began today, September 25th. It is the second most important festival in China & I was told by a Chinese friend that it is comparable to our Christmas. When the moon is rising tonight families will put a table in the open yard covered with moon cakes and fruits, including watermelon. All members of the family will sit around the table, they will talk & eat while they are enjoying the moon. Some families will pray before they eat. The moon will be brighter and rounder than it normally is because tonight it is closest to the Earth. Eating moon cake is an important custom of the festival-moon cake means reunion. Families who live far apart try to travel to be together during this time, but if that is not possible they call each other.
To celebrate this special holiday Emma wore a traditional dress to school & I have to say that she looked absolutely GORGEOUS!!! : ) She also brought a story about The Moon Festival (Chang E Goes to the Moon) for her teacher to read to the class and moon cakes for everybody to eat at snack time! The "moon cakes" were actually Hostess' Ding Dongs...I figured that Emma's friends would enjoy them more than real moon cakes that have flavors such as bean paste & lotus! Tonight Emma and I went outside to look at the moon and think about all of our family and friends near and far-especially Emma's birth mother who was surely looking at the same moon. Unfortunately, it was overcast & we could not see the moon! None the less we stood outside and said our good wishes. : ) When Greg gets home we will celebrate together by going out for a Chinese dinner & we will eat REAL moon cakes... it is an acquired taste-but we like them!
~Megan

2 comments:

Beth said...

Oh, she looks so pretty in her dress!! And great idea with the story and "moon cakes" for her class. :)

Sharon said...

She is gorgeous! How cool!

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