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MIDAUTUMN FESTIVAL DINNER FULL
To honor Chang'e's memory, every full moon Hou Yi would place Chang’e’s favorite foods on the table and gaze into the sky, hoping to glimpse his wife. He saw her shadow as she flew to the moon and knew Chang'e had not gone far. Hou Yi returned from his hunt to find his wife gone. Not wanting to be too far from her husband, Chang'e flew to the moon, for from there she could still see Hou Yi as he lived down below.
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Now immortal, Chang'e was exiled from the earth.
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He demanded that Chang'e give him the elixir of immortality.Ĭhang'e refused and, out of desperation, swallowed the elixir herself. One day when Hou Yi was away hunting, a villain named Pengmeng broke into the couple's home. Fearing for its safety, Hou Yi gave the elixir to his wife Chang'e for safekeeping.
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News spread quickly that Hou Yi had received the elixir from the Empress. Order was restored to the land and to show her gratitude, the Empress of heaven presented Hou Yi an elixir of immortality. Hou Yi took his bow and shot down nine of the suns. One day, ten suns rose together into the sky causing great chaos and disaster. Once upon a time there lived a hunter named Hou Yi. However, the most popular remains that of Chang'e flying to the moon. There are many tales that tell the legend of the Mid-Autumn Festival in China. Story of the Mid-Autumn Festival in China Chang’e Flying to the Moon Popular flavors include egg yolk, lotus, red bean, and nuts. They are a circular pastry with rich fillings. Mooncakes are round, calorie-heavy snacks commonly eaten for Mid-Autumn Festival in China. The Mid-Autumn Festival is second only to the Spring Festival in importance, making it one of the busiest annual travel periods in China with millions of people on the move. If you want to join in the traveling, we recommend booking your tickets and accommodation well in advance. Modern activities include short vacations. Round foods such as pomegranates and pomelo also typically make an appearance on the Mid-Autumn Festival dinner table as the roundness of the food mirrors the full moon and symbolizes family unity. Traditional Mid-Autumn Festival activities include gathering with family to eat mooncakes and appreciate the beauty of the full moon. In China, there is usually a three-day holiday for the Mid-Autumn Festival. How is the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrated in China? The moon is always either full or close to full on the Mid-Autumn festival, so you might also hear the holiday referred to as the Moon Festival or the Mooncake Festival. In ancient China, people would worship the moon and offer sacrifices for a bountiful harvest. The holiday traditionally celebrates the harvest season. While the date on the Gregorian calendar changes every year, the holiday usually falls sometime between late September and early October. The Mid-Autumn Festival is a lunar holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month in China. What is the Mid-Autumn Festival in China? If you are not familiar with the Mid-Autumn Festival, buckle up and we’ll explore this wonderful holiday together. Each year in China, we celebrate the harvest festival, better known as the Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节 zhōngqiū jié) in Chinese.
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