Happy happy happy belated Mid-Autumn Festival to all Chinese around the world, and to some 'sesat' (lost, in Bahasa Melayu) ones who also celebrate this event! LOL. I actually do not celebrate it to be honest. I only want to eat those yummy mooncakes every year and give myself an excuse to play with fire and lantern. Haha. The problem is, i haven't done any of them.
Yup, i haven't eaten a single slice of mooncake and i thought i was too old for lanterns, considering the sad fact that i'm 21.
There is a story behind this festival, as i was told, many many gazillion years back by someone. However, there are many different versions of it, told by the different divisions and subdivisions of the Chinese race (China's big, hence, different parts of China would have different dialects and well, beliefs).
Correct me if i'm wrong. If my memory hasn't failed me, the Chinese celebrate this festival to commemorate the goddess named Chang Er who got sent off to the moon as a punishment for dating General Tian Peng (who turned into the famous Zhu Ba Jie, the pig warrior who accompanied monk Tsang Jang on his journey to the West, in seek of Buddha).
(picture courtesy of www.technicaljones.com)
Another version came from my mum's side, where majority are Hokkiens. I think their version's more logical. According to them, it's about a war against some enemy (i forgot which enemy); it was at night, and it was full moon. Apparently, the strategy that helped them (China) win the war was this 'bright' (lol) idea of sending messages to one and another in cakes. Literally stuffing inked messages into the poor edibles. That explains why we have mooncakes on the mid-autumn festival. Full moon, winning battle/war, with the help of cakes, get it?
Whatever it is, i'm no Buddhist or Taoist, and neither do i speak much of Hokkien. I only look forward to eating the cakes and gathering for a game of cards with my cousins. Haha. This year's celebration at my mum's side was so so. Simple and quiet. Just the way i want it. We left quite early because my dad was sleepy.
Nothing much happened so i'll just let the pictures do the talking. Enjoy viewing!
Top: Part of the feast.
Bottom: Yummy cupcakes. My aunt brought them. I think i've seen them on Kristine's 21st bday party.
Taken by my sis, cousins and i:
Cute lanterns:
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