The Lunar Festival is an annual Chinese celebration that brings people together to give thanks for a bountiful harvest and to wish for good fortune. It takes place on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar, when the moon is believed to be at its brightest and fullest of the year.
The festival’s origins are rooted in Chinese mythology. Long ago, legend says, nine suns rose into the sky at once, scorching the land and making life nearly impossible. A skilled archer named Houyi was summoned by the emperor and given a powerful bow. With it, he shot down eight of the suns, restoring balance to the world. As a reward, Houyi received an elixir of immortality that would allow him to live forever in the heavens. However, he chose to remain on Earth with his beloved, keeping the elixir hidden in his home. One day, while Houyi was away, an intruder attempted to steal it. To protect the elixir, his lover drank it herself and was carried up to the heavens, where she came to reside on the moon. Houyi returned in time to defeat the intruder, but not in time to stop her ascent. To this day, she is said to live on the moon, and during the festival, many people gaze upward, thinking of loved ones they cannot be with.
One of the most recognizable traditions of the Lunar Festival is the sharing of mooncakes. These small, round pastries are offered in a variety of flavors, from sweet red bean paste to salted egg yolk. Yamane reflected, “Sharing food with strangers sounds awkward, but it wasn’t. People were offering things, asking what I had, and just passing the cakes around.” Other activities included tea tasting, lantern making, and crafting grasshoppers. These stations were led by members of the Chinese Club, under the guidance of their advisor, Mrs. Lu.
With a mix of history, hands-on activities, and food, the celebration drew a crowd of over 200 people. Still, there is always room for improvement. When asked what could make the experience better, Yamane said, “Honestly, I’d just go earlier. I showed up kind of late, so I felt like I missed some of the smaller activities at the beginning.” Keeping this in mind, future celebrations are sure to be even bigger, better, and more memorable.
