The Chinese Mid-Autumn Moon Festival
Today, we celebrate this Chinese holiday (translated to our calendar). I've included the Wikipedia's explanation below, with links to more detailed information. This holiday is one of the two most important holidays from the Lunar calendar, the second being the Lunar New Year. It is relatively new to the U.S., but has been celebrated in China for over 1000 years. On the night of the full moon, the Chinese rebels successfully attacked and overthrew the Mongolian government. It is also a time of celebration, and one of the most beautiful holidays, and is a time for thanksgiving.
At times, I think one of the reasons why the wait times are so long for us to meet our little girl, is because we have a lot to learn about her heritage. We want to educate her, and enrich her life with knowledge of her culture.
Here is a poem I found that I thought was really sweet...
I See the Moon...
I see the moon and the moon sees me,Down through the leaves of the old oak tree.
Please let the light that shines on me,
Shine on the one I love.
Over the mountains, over the sea,
I have a love who is waiting for me.
Please let the light that shines on me,
Shine on the one I love.
(from "We See the Moon" by Carrie Kitze)
So, as we gaze at the moon this evening, we celebrate in the spirit of the holiday, and for you, Kylie Grace. Just maybe you are being born at this moment, and maybe you are already waiting for us. Either way, you are almost home, baby girl. We love you!
The Mid-Autumn Festival (Traditional Chinese: 中秋節, Simplified Chinese: 中秋节; pinyin: Zhōngqiūjié; Korean: Ch'usǒk or Chuseok 추석/秋夕; Vietnamese Tết Trung Thu; Taiwanese Tion Chhiu;also known as the Moon Festival, Mooncake Festival, or the August Moon Festival. In Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and Malaysia, it may be referred to as the Lantern Festival, similar in name to a different festival which falls on the fifteenth day of the Lunnar New Year) is a popular Asian celebration of abundance and togetherness, dating back over 3,000 years to China's Zhou Dynasty.
The Festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month of the Lunar calendar (usually around mid- or late-September in the Gregorian Calendar), a date that parallels the Autumn Equinox of the solar calendar. At this time, the moon is at its fullest and brightest, marking an ideal time to celebrate the abundance of the summer's harvest. The traditional food of this festival is the moon cake, of which there are many different varieties.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the two most important holidays in the Lunar calendar (the other being the Lunar New Year), and is a legal holiday in several countries. Farmers celebrate the end of the summer harvesting season on this date. Traditionally, on this day, Asian family members and friends will gather to admire the bright mid-autumn harvest moon, and eat moon cakes and pomeloes together. It is also common to have barbecues outside under the moon, and to put pomelo rinds on one's head. Brightly lit lanterns are often carried around by children. Together with the celebration, there appear some special customs in different parts of the country, such as burning incense, planting sweet-olive trees, lighting lanterns on towers, and fire dragon dances. Shops selling mooncakes, before the festival, often display pictures of Chang'e, floating to the moon.
2008: September 14
2009: October 3
2010: September 22
2011: September 12
2012: September 30
2013: September 19
2014: September 8
2015: September 27
2016: September 16
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