By Katherine Yeager | Echo
Those visiting the LaRita Boren Campus Center for dinner Wednesday evening found a free food option. In addition to Chick-fil-A patrons, the area buzzed with students stopping to sample mooncakes and honey chrysanthemum tea, traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival food.
On Wednesday, Sept. 14 from 6-8 p.m., Taylor's Asian Society for Intercultural Awareness (ASIA) hosted the Mid-Autumn Festival or "Moon Festival" outside the Office of Intercultural Programs (OIP) office at the LaRita Boren Campus Center. According to senior and event volunteer Jacob Jin, this is the first year the group has sponsored the event, hosted in past years by Global Engagement.
The symbolic use of the moon, according to ASIA, is gathered from a tale of the hero Houyi, an archer, and his wife.
Chang'e, Yi's wife who became immortal, moved to the moon and was separated from her husband. Yi grieved over Chang'e and displayed fruit and cakes as sacrifices to his wife. Others saw Yi's sacrifices, gained sympathy for Chang'e and gave their own sacrifices.
Today, according to ASIA, family and friends gather together for the "Moon Festival" in thankfulness and hope for past and present prosperity.
Though she grew up in the United States, junior Nysha Chen remembers celebrating the festival with friends and family. "In America, families would give mooncakes and host potlucks," Chen said. "It was fun, even though I don't like mooncakes."
Resembling a small pie the size of an Oreo, mooncakes are stuffed with a filling often made of red bean or lotus seed paste with a sweet, fruity flavor. The round cakes resemble a full moon, paying homage to the lost Chang'e and to the belief that the moon is brightest and roundest during the festival due to family reunion.
Sophomore Rong Rong remembers years of playing games and eating mooncakes with her family.
"Making and sharing mooncakes is one of the hallmark traditions of this festival," Jin said. "In Chinese culture, a round shape symbolizes completeness and reunion." According to Jin, the sharing and eating of mooncakes among family members during the festival signifies the completeness and unity of families.
With a full moon tonight, those who were unable to attend the festival or wish to continue the festivities can still continue the celebrations of this traditional festival.
