Chang-E Legend


The most popular legend is that of Chang E, the Moon fairy. The earth had 10 suns circling over it. One day, all 10 suns appeared together, scorching the earth with their heat. The earth was saved when a strong archer, Hou Yi, succeeded in shooting down 9 of the suns. Yi was made an emperor, but he became a tyrant. Yi stole the elixir of life but to save the people from his tyrannical rule, his wife, Chang-E drank it and flies to the moon with her pet rabbit. Hence there was this legend of the lady in the moon with her Jade Rabbit. There are many variations to this legend.


Mid-Autumn Festival

On the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar, the Chinese celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival or Zhong Qiu Jie. Also known as the Mooncake Festival or the Lantern Festival, it usually falls in Sep/Oct. It is a time for family members and loved ones to congregate and enjoy the full moon - an auspicious symbol of abundance, harmony and luck. The festival also seeing people indulging in mooncakes and tea, another familiar sight is that of young children playing with lanterns. The moon is believed to be at its brightest and roundest on this day. This festival began as a harvest festival and was later given a mythological flavour with legends of Chang-E.
Mooncakes

Singaporeans buy mooncakes for personal consumption, for offerings to ancestors and as gifts to senior relatives. To the Chinese, the round shape of mooncakes symbolises family unity. Each mooncake is about the size of a human palm.

Among the popular varieties are the black bean paste (tou-sha), brownish lotus paste (lien-yung) yellow bean paste (tou-yung). Usually the paste contains the yolk of a preserved duck’s egg to enhance the flavour. The traditional pastry has a flaky skin with a lotus seed paste and a whole egg yolk in the center (to symbolize the moon). However, lotus seed is very expensive so red bean paste is often substituted.

Today, one can find many variations on the stuffing including nuts, fruits, sweet potatoes and melon. These mooncakes are quite filling, meant to be cut diagonally in quarters and passed around.

Lanterns

Lanterns can be those traditional ones where you light it with a candle, or those where you light it with batteries, meant for younger kids. Back in the old days, lantern to celebrate the mid-autumn festival should be one of those waxed paper types. It has nostalgic value and the glowing candle when lit just makes the simple lantern so pretty.

Many shops have a large variety of lanterns on sale, you can find them also at Chinatown. Latern festival are also held annually at the Chinese Garden., click here to view photos froms Lantern Fun-tasy 2004.
Yuan Zhang

In the 14th century, the eating of mooncakes at 'Zhong Qiu Jie' was given a new significance. The story goes that when Zhu Yuan Zhang was plotting to overthrow the Yuan dynasty started by the Mongolians, the rebels hide secret messages inside mooncakes giving the exact date and time of the attack against the Mongolians. On the night of the moon festival, the rebels successfully attacked and overthrew the government. To remember this victorious revolt against the Mongolians, eating mooncakes has become an important part of the celebrations.