Dear all

Feeling very happy to be able to share this special celebration with you all here.

Basically, the greatest thing of the moon cake festival is of course because it coincides with the full moon phase. The Chinese has always associated the full moon with family reunion. It is customary to those who work or study outside of their hometowns to return home to have a family reunion, and that is why this festival is also sometimes called the Reunion Festival.

Even the food served on this day has a round shape. As you can see, moon cakes are in the shape of a full moon, which reflects people's pursuit of a round and perfect life. It is therefore customary for people to watch the full moon, while eating these cakes, to encourage people to seek the brightness of the moon in their journey through life.

Most people worship their ancestors on this day, because it is the day when family members return home.After the worship and the burning of paper money, the adults then prepare food and wine in the courtyard, followed by moon gazing and chanting.

Children are usually playing around the courtyard, carrying brightly lit paper lanterns (which are becoming more&more "westernised" in their shapes nowadays, as you can see in this pic,there are lanterns with the shape of Superman,Garfield and even Bubbles from the Powerpuff Girls, )



At some public places, there will be some fire dragon dance shows.



It is also worth mentioning that since full moon can evoke various romantic feelings in people, this festival is still a favorite for most Chinese couple to express their loves to each other (a little bit like Valentine's day).Many single chinese women also pray to the moon goddess on this day,hoping to be blessed with good husbands.

Speaking about the moon cake itself, in the past, most of the fillings for the moon cakes are made of lotus seeds and sweet beans and LOTS of sugar, but now there are more varieties of fillings for moon cakes, like chocolate, coffee, peanut, ice cream, cheese, etc, with less sugar& fat (due to the increased popularity of health-conscious lifestyle).
At my place, the most favourite filling is durian, but I don't really think I would recommend this filling for you, as I have been told that most westerners can't even stand the smell of durian, , I would definitely recommend the coffee filling.

Perhaos one day we could all sit around a table under the full moon, eating moon cakes while sipping chinese tea, and playing around with Gatchaman paper lanterns. I would love either a Ken or Joe paper lantern, especially if it lits up at the right places,

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That sounds wonderful, Saturn! I would be all over a chocolate moon cake!!!!!

Hey, can we have a God Phoenix lantern and then set it aflame to make the firebird?

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Thanks Saturn for the info about your festival.... I love the thought of a Joe or Ken paper lantern for all of us... and TJ's idea for a "firey" phoenix one too. Maybe someday we can all enjoy one in each others company.

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" No gratitude needs to be voiced, your mind speaks to us!"


Racer by day, Feather Thrower all the time!

Saturn,

Its interesting to read about other people's traditions.

You know when I first read your information I thought "This sounds like a pagan tradition." Something you would have heard of in old England or Scotland, or Ireland in the days of the High Kings. Forgetting your background and where you live. Still there are similarities. The cake looks yummy. What does it taste like? Its looks heavy and sticky.

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Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up- Pablo Picasso.

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Originally posted by saturn I would rather have the jigokiller lantern, then I would be able to set it aflame, and later reenacted the scene from the Jigokiller episodes (my most favorite GatchI episode so far) with my Ken & Jun paper lantern. I am such a hopeless shipper.

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There is no problem that cannot be solved with time, patience, and a judicious amount of high explosives.

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Originally posted by Springie quote: Originally posted by saturn I would rather have the jigokiller lantern, then I would be able to set it aflame, and later reenacted the scene from the Jigokiller episodes (my most favorite GatchI episode so far) with my Ken & Jun paper lantern. I am such a hopeless shipper. I LOVE that idea! I'm so glad to see another shipper around...and the Jigokillers ep ROCKS!!

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Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up- Pablo Picasso.

ROTFL!!!!I have this image... ahhh do you really want me to share I think not!!!

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Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up- Pablo Picasso.

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Originally posted by Transmute Jun Um, that is NEVER going to happen. I have a hard enough time writing about Zark. He's not going to be paired with Princess unless it's some kind of obsessive stalker thing. Not in my fics. Nuh uh.

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quote:

Originally posted by saturn Dear all At some public places, there will be some fire dragon dance shows. It is also worth mentioning that since full moon can evoke various romantic feelings in people, this festival is still a favorite for most Chinese couple to express their loves to each other (a little bit like Valentine's day).Many single chinese women also pray to the moon goddess on this day,hoping to be blessed with good husbands.

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Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up- Pablo Picasso.