There are many folk stories regarding the origins of the Mid-Autumn Festival, but the most well-known is the legend of Hou Yi and Chang’e. According to the myth, there were once ten suns in the sky, and Hou Yi shot down nine of them to save the earth from being scorched. As a reward for this heroic deed, he was granted an elixir of immortality. Unfortunately, an apprentice tried to steal the elixir and Hou Yi’s wife, Chang’e, had no choice but to consume it herself.

Weightless and immortal, Chang’e ascended until she reached the moon, where she resides as the Moon Goddess, together with the Jade Rabbit. That’s why the rabbit motif is common in Mid-Autumn festivities, and one of the most traditional lanterns is fashioned after this animal. To this day, moon gazers try to make out the shape of Chang’e and the Jade Rabbit within the shadows on the face of the full moon.

Because the full moon represents reunions, families take advantage of the festival as a chance to gather, usually for a family meal which ends with mooncakes, glutinous rice balls and seasonal fruits.

◦◌○ 🥮 Happy Mid-Autumn Festival 🌕 ○◌◦🌓🌔🌕🐇🌛✨💛🏮