The Harvest Moon Festival, also called the Moon Festival, or the Autumn Moon Festival is one of the most important festivals in the Chinese calendar. Several of China’s neighbors have adopted the festival as their own, and for many of these countries, the date has become a National Holiday.
The Harvest Moon Festival was started under the Song Dynasty sometime between 960 and 1279 a.d. But the act of moon worship in China can be traced back over 3,000 years. The festival occurs on the 15th day of the 8th month into each year. The cultures who celebrate this festival believe that on this date the moon is at its biggest and roundest, and that it is a symbol of completeness and closure.
Ever since its inception the festival has been considered not only a magical time of year, but also a chance for kids to stay up past their bed time and play in the moonlight.
The annual celebration is comparable to Thanksgiving in the United States, and is a time for family reunions, storytelling, and romance for young and old couples alike. During the Moon Festival people will share mooncakes, gather to watch dragon dancers, put up beautiful lanterns, light incense and all the while look up the brilliant full moon.
The Legend Behind the Mooncake
One of the most popular stories to tell beneath the full moon is the legend of how the Chinese overthrew the Mongol dictators.
The legend takes place toward the end of the Song Dynasty when there was an Emperor in charge named Huizong, also known as the tea Emperor, due to his love of the drink. He spent so much time creating art and focusing on his tea gardens that when neighboring nations began invading, China had little defense, and the country eventually fell to Mongolian rule. The Mongolians ruled China for close to a hundred years until Ming rebels forced them out, but they couldn’t have done it without their secret weapon: Mooncakes.
The Mongols had forbidden any communal gathering by the Chinese, and any attempts at long distance communication were stopped. So the Chinese had no way to mobilize and form an attack. But the Ming rebels spread the rumor of a vicious plague spreading all across China. The only way to cure the fictitious plague was to eat mooncakes. The Mongols didn’t care for the dessert, so they didn’t eat any but they allowed the Chinese to produced several and spread them to neighboring villages. Unknown to the Mongols, the Chinese had hidden messages within the moon cakes. Mooncakes are made so that there are somewhere between 4 to 16 pieces in each cake. The Ming rebels hid messages inside the pieces, and when put together in a certain way, the cakes said one thing: On the day of the Autumn Moon Festival, we attack.
The plan worked. The Ming rebels were able to formulate a successful attack, and eventually kicked the Mongolians out. And that’s how Moon Cakes helped save China.
The Food
There are many common foods eaten during Autumn Moon Festival. Lobster and salmon are very popular dinners. Chestnuts and roasted peanuts are common celebration foods, as well as fruits like apples and pomegranates. However, Moon Cakes are probably the most widely eaten food during this celebration. These thousand-year-old morsels can vary by ingredients, shape, size, and taste, but they all serve the same purpose- to unite family and friends over a delicious treat.
The Moon Festival Today
 Today the Moon Festival is recognized by many Asian countries and various Chinatowns all across the world. Even many western countries like the United States, Britain, and Australia recognize the importance of the festival. Many stores and shops even count on the festival for business. So while the rest of the world is celebrating the festival, don’t miss out! Bring your friends and family together this year. Get your Chinese lanterns, some good seats to watch the full moon, and of course- Moon Cakes!
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