Today is the Mid Autumn Festival or Moon Festival. It is the day, or rather night, when the moon shines at its brightest for the whole year. In the lunar calendar this day falls on the 15th day of the 8th month. Traditionally this is the time when families get together to feast, view the moon and eat mooncakes. While baked goods are a common feature at most Chinese celebrations, mooncakes are inextricably linked with the Moon festival. One type of traditional mooncake is filled with lotus seed paste (see photo). Roughly the size of a human hand, these mooncakes are quite filling and are meant to be cut diagonally in quarters and passed around. There is usually a salty yolk in the middle, representing the full moon, which can be an acquired taste.
Mooncakes are big business in China with hotels and restaurants producing elaborately packaged cakes which they sell from about July onwards. These packages are given out to family, friends and business contacts as goodwill gifts.
The nearest Western equivalent is probably the Harvest Festival or perhaps Thanksgiving.
Today, we spent the day with some old friends who have a daughter a similar age to our youngest. The kids played and much food and drink was consumed by all including, mooncakes.