How the Mid-Autumn Festival came to be: Think betrayal, immortality ...

A vibrant display of animal-shaped and character-themed lanterns fills a store in preparation for the Mid-Autumn Festival. — Picture by Raymond Manuel

By Kenneth Tee

Tuesday, 17 Sep 2024 9:09 AM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 17 — These days, fewer and fewer children walk around their neighbourhoods carrying lanterns in the shape of dragons, fish or roosters in the days leading up to the Mid-Autumn Festival.

For the uninitiated, the Mid-Autumn Festival is held on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese calendar which usually falls between mid-September.

This year the Mid-Autumn Festival falls on September 17.

Traditionally round in shape to symbolise completeness and togetherness, mooncakes are a seasonal Chinese pastry eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

There are different regional styles and flavours but it's difficult to accurately estimate how many types there are. Especially now when many bakers take big liberties to make them with chocolate, ice cream, etc.

In the mythological version of the festival's origin, it was told that the Earth was scorched by the emergence of 10 suns until Hou Yi, a famed archer, shot all but one down.

Impressed by his heroic deeds, the deities rewarded Hou Yi with an elixir of immortality.

Not wanting to consume the elixir and leave his wife Chang'e behind, he then asked her to safekeep the elixir.

However, an apprentice archer — Peng Meng — tried to steal it while Hou Yi was out hunting.

Breaking into Hou Yi's home, he demanded Chang'e hand over the elixir but she refused and drank the elixir which transformed her into an immortal.

She flew into the heavens until she managed to stop at the moon which became her immortal residence.

When Hou Yi returned and learned what transpired, he was devastated and felt responsible for Chang'e which led him to offer pastries in the form of offerings to his beloved wife.

People soon learned about Hou Yi's tale and thereafter began to offer similar offerings to Chang'e in commemoration of her action and in sympathy for the separated couple.

The historical version, however, tells a different tale.

Ancient Chinese emperors worshipped the harvest moon in autumn, as they believed that the practice would bring them a bountiful harvest the following year.

It was not until the Tang Dynasty (618-907) that moon worshipping became popular among the upper class, followed by the "official" establishment of the Mid-Autumn Festival during the Song Dynasty (960-1279).

Mooncake eating only became a tradition during the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) where rebels hid and exchanged messages in mooncakes.

The festival is still widely celebrated by Chinese families with a dinner as the full moon symbolises familial togetherness.