Hangzhou 2011-2012: 月饼 moon cakes

Mid-Autum festival ...........15th day of the eighth lunar month.

This day is when people think of their homes and want to re connect, even if it is only a phone call or video chat.Modernization has left impact on families, but this is a day when we need to stop and remind ourselves of family and home.. The Mid-Autumn festival wakes up our love and the sense of responsibility for the family . The Festival is second only to the Spring Festival in importance in the Chinese Lunar calendar and both festivals have great significance to family reunion celebrations--- especially when the full moon shines. ( as it did last evening). the moon during this time is said to be brightest during the year. When people see the moon they start thinking of family. Traditions have faded in neon-lit cities but many customs are still alive in the northern parts. In the country, people would place a table in their courtyard and load it with moon cakes and other offerings, family members would bow and make a wish, praying for blessings from the moon.It is said that people who walk under the moonlight can get rid of pains and ills.
In some places , they light little lanterns to cast light in the night. The Chinese has always paid homage to the moon, believing it's waxing and waning represents the eternal life cycle. The tradition of the gift of eating moon cakes began in the Song dynasty ( 960-1279). The cake was originally created as a sacrificial offering to the moon but evolved as a gift exchange in a festival that stresses reunion and good will. There seems to be many people climbing mountains over this festival week end I can only think they are getting closer to the moon.
Wayne and I enjoyed the festival very much and felt very privileged to be asked to be involved with our local friends. Even if climbing up one side and down the other side of a mountain was a mammoth effort in the heat of the evening. Today I rest.

A group of more than 35 climbed the mountain, resting at the top everyone had a turn in introducing themselves to the group ( in chinese of course) we received a a big cheer and they laughed at our joke!! We then had the 500 steps down the other side of the mountain.