Moon Festival

 
    The Moon Festival is also called the Mid-Autumn Festival because it usually falls in September or early October (the 15th of the 8th lunar month, following the Chinese calendar). Especially, at that time, the moon is full and brilliant. It celebrated in my country-Taiwan, China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam.

The Moon Festival is backed by a love story. Houyi who is a mythological archer fell in love and married Chang'e. One day, Houyi got a pill that was elixir of life. Then he gave the pill to Chang'e for preserving. But Houyi's disciple wanted to steal that pill and enter Chang'e's bedroom by secret. He forced Chang'e to give the pill to him, but Chang'e is unwilling. So, she wallowed the pill and filed to the moon. Finally, she became the god of the moon.

Traditionally, people prepare the moon cake, pomelo and money paper to make an offering to Chang'e because people believe she will protect families and keep them together.

Barbecue is a recent custom in Taiwan on Moon festival. Families and friends get together on this day and enjoy a meal.

Absolutely, my family also celebrates this tradition on this day. We barbecue many foods, eat the moon cake with green tea and pomelos. This day is very important for my family because everyone will go home form different cities. (we are in different cities due to many reasons, such as studying, working, so it's not easy to get together). Everybody enjoys a meal on Moon Festival. By the way, we don't wear special clothes or listen the music on this day.

Special meaning in moon cake, pomelo and barbecue:
- Moon cake: It's often given as a gift or consumed during the Moon Festival. Often the cakes have egg yolks baked into the middle. It means the lunar radiance in the center od the cake. Now, it also can change to the mung bean or red bean.

- Pomelo: This fruit is like grapefruit. In Chinese pronounciation, it sounds like "care and protection" , so people usually eat this on Moon Festival.

 - Barbecue: Make families or friends to get together. We usually barbecue meats, vegetables, sea foods and so on.