This is when families return to celebrate and give
thanks for the year's bounty. Offerings of their harvest
such as apples, pears, peaches, grapes, pomegranates ,
melons, oranges and pomelos were common.
Legend has
it that the time and place of the revolution were
concealed in the mooncakes sent to friends and
relatives. The midnight massacre of the Mongols was led
by Liu Bowen.
Today,
altars are set up outside the house facing the full moon
on the night of the festival. The "harvest moon" is at
its brightest and roundest this time of the year.
Offerings
of mooncakes, mini yams and water caltrops are laid out
for Chang-Er, also known as the Moon Lady. Round fruits
are offered as the shape symbolises the fullness of the
moon and family harmony.
Some
women peel pomelos and mini yams in the belief that they
will have a flawless complexion. Others pray to the moon
goddess hoping to be blessed with good husbands.
The
classic tale of Chang-Er, the beautiful moon goddess, is
associated with the Mooncake Festival. Pictures of her
in a flowy gown floating to the moon commonly adorn
mooncake boxes.
Folklore
has it that she was married to the divine archer Hou Yi,
who shot nine out of 10 suns that were causing havoc.
For his deed, the Queen Mother of the West gave him the
elixir of life. Chang-Er stole her husband's potion of
immortality, drank it and found herself floating to the
moon. There she lives out her days in the cold lonely
moon palace with a furry rabbit for companion.
A
slightly different version says that Hou Yi was a
tyrannical ruler. Chang-Er drank the magic potion to
prevent him from becoming immortal.
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