Saturday, September 22, 2007
Mid-Autumn Festival Legend
A long time ago, according to a famous Chinese legend, the earth had 10 suns circling it, each taking its turn to illuminate and warm it. One day, all 10 suns appeared together, and the combined heat resulted in a terrible drought. To save the world from imminent destruction, China's famous archer, Hou Yi, shot down 9 of the suns. He became a hero and the Emperor presented him with the most beautiful woman in the land, Chang Er, to whom he married. The Emperor also rewarded him with a magic pill containing the elixir of immortality.The curious Chang Er discovered the pill and consumed it in her husband's absence. She transformed into a fairy and drifted to the moon, leaving the grief-stricken Hou Yi behind. His longing for Chang Er so touched the hearts of the deities that they allowed the couple to meet the 15th day of every 8th month in the lunar calendar.
Thus, the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated on this day each year. As the full moon is round in shape and the word 'circle' (yuan) is synonymous with the word 'unity' in Chinese, the Mid-Autumn Festival is heralded as a time of harmony and blissful family reunions.
Mooncake is a Chinese pastry traditionally eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Typical mooncakes are round pastries, with a thick filling usually made from lotus paste and surrounded by a relatively thin crust (baked or snow skin). The mooncake may contain other ingredients in its center such as salted duck egg yolks or even chocolate truffles. Traditional mooncakes have an imprint on top consisting of the Chinese characters for "longevity" or "harmony". They are usually eaten in small wedges accompanied by Chinese tea.
Mooncakes are also associated with the overthrow of the Mongol invaders in the 14th century. The story goes that Chinese revolutionaries planned to revolt against the government on the fifteenth day of the eighth month. This message was passed around hidden in moon cakes amongst the people who subsequently rose up and overthrew the oppressive tyrant.
Labels: Food
Penseur 4:44 pm