“Today, September 8 is Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋節) and families all across the world with Chinese and Vietnamese roots will be celebrating. The Mid-Autumn Festival is held on the 15th day of the 8th month according to the Lunar Calendar during a full moon. This date varies from year to year according to the Gregorian calendar, but usually lands in September or early October.
The Mid-Autumn Festival celebrates the autumn harvest and gathers families together. Everyone comes together to share a meal, light lanterns, and gaze at the moon.
Legend of the Lady in the Moon
Why does this festival celebrate the moon? Legend has it that there is a lady on the moon, an immortal goddess called Chang E. It was also thought that at one point in time, the world had 10 suns. The heat from the sun was killing crops so the land’s best archer, Hou Yi, was recruited to shoot down nine of the suns. Upon his success he was given a pill that would grant him immortality.”
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