~ MID-AUTUMN MOON FESTIVAL ~

We enjoyed celebrating the Autumn Moon Festival with our China Princess. I read the boys the story of this holiday from our "Moonbeams, Dumplings and Dragon boats" book. Anthony had to take out his telescope to see if he could see the Jade Rabbit on the moon; and lo and behold, he did see "something"!

Mia by the light of the moon!

I tried so hard to get a good photo,

but my girl would NOT stand still!

Honestly, as we were outside viewing this very bright moon, all the kids wanted to do was go inside and eat the mooncakes! I warned them that the "cakes" do not really taste like our American version of a cake!

Can you see the anticipation?!

Mia really enjoyed them!

We bought black bean and lotus seed filled mooncakes. They are very heavy (to hold and once in your stomach!) and the boys were not too impressed. The black bean mooncakes had a more "familiar" taste to them than the lotus seed. We each had a few bites and then I shared mine with a "hungry" golden retriever:

Yes, she gobbled it up!

"I'll have the rest!"

This is our first year celebrating under the moon ~ even though we were home from China with Mia last year. You see, we were still adjusting as a family and then my big boy fell and broke his arm! It was a crazy time and the last thing I thought to do was order some mooncakes. I'm glad we could gather as a family under this cloudy, yet bright moon. We are all together :)

HAPPY AUTUMN MOON!

"Autumn Moon Festival, literally ‘Mid-Autumn Festival’, or the Birthday of the Moon is a time to have the family together, eat a festive meal including moon cakes, and enjoy the moonlight. Children & adults carry paper lanterns and climb hills to get a good view of the full moon. They give thanks to the bright, silvery moon of the eighth lunar month. Some call it a “Chinese Thanksgiving”.

Mooncakes are round like the moon. The round shape is a symbol for togetherness and harmony. Made of flaked pastry, they often have egg yolks in the center, to represent the moon, and sweet fillings of red bean paste, lotus seed paste, coconut or nuts. The sweetness of them represents good fortune or good harvest.

On the evening of the Autumn Moon Festival, people carrying paper lanterns climb hills and mountains to get a good view of the full moon. They give thanks to the bright, silvery moon of the eighth lunar month."