Chinoy Community Celebrates Mooncake Festival   

Chinese culture is influential worldwide, especially here in the Philippines. Once the Chinese lunar calendar falls on the 15th day of the eighth month, the Filipino-Chinese community will celebrate the Mooncake Festival or Zhongqiujie (中秋节). 

This year, the celebration will occur from September 15th to 17th, and Chinoys will commemorate the Mooncake Festival’s rich history. 

So, How Did This Tradition Start? 

The Mooncake Festival started because of the selfless love between Chang’e and Hou Yi. According to a legend dating back 2000 years to the Tang dynasty, there were ten suns, and Hou Yi shot down nine of them, saving humanity from hunger because the crops were thriving. 

Through Hou Yi’s bravery, the Gods gave him an elixir to be immortal and eventually become a god. However, he hid it because he wanted to be with Chang’e, her immortal wife. In an unexpected turn of events, Chang’e consumed the elixir to protect it from Pang Meng, who tried to steal it to gain power and be immortal. 

After consuming the elixir, Chang’e became the moon goddess, leaving her husband behind. Missing his wife, Hou Yi offers her favorite food as a gesture of love, eventually becoming the Mooncake Festival. 

Because of this, the essence of the Mooncake festival is to appreciate the moon’s beauty. This can also mean a reunion time with family and friends to show gratitude, symbolizing unity and completeness.

How Can Chinoys Celebrate the Mooncake Festival 2024? 

• Indulge in Mooncakes

Celebrate the Mooncake Festival by indulging in mooncakes with your family. Mooncakes usually are round pastries with savory fillings, including bean paste and salted egg. You can also drink tea to pair it with the delicious and iconic mooncakes.

Fortunately, looking for affordable mooncakes nowadays is convenient. You can easily find stores that fit your budget! Perhaps you can head over to Binondo to buy your mooncakes before the celebration starts! 

ALSO READ:  Where to Buy Mooncakes That Fits Your Budget This 2024

• Attend Family Reunions

Like Christmas and New Year, the Mooncake Festival is also a time for family reunions. The tradition emphasizes the importance of the family, so most people go back to their hometowns or spend time with their cousins, grandparents, and other relatives. 

Indeed, celebrating with your loved ones makes a happy Mooncake Festival, just like the love between Chang’e and Hou Yi. So, take the holidays to spend time with your family and friends. 

• Pua Tiong Chiu 跋中秋: Play the Dice Game!

As you attend family reunions, playing the Mooncake dice game is a source of entertainment and socializing. 

Pua Tiong Chiu will also make you unplug from your phone. You only need a porcelain bowl, dice, and prizes, which can be money or grocery packages. Just roll the dice and prepare yourself to win some prizes. 

Perhaps you could win the Chong Wan for the Mooncake Festival 2024! 

• Appreciate the Moon’s Beauty

The Mooncake Festival is about appreciating the moon’s beauty because of its history between Chang’e and Hou Yi. Luckily, the Philippines has a lot of spots where you can have stargazing with your friends and family. 

You could visit Tanay, Rizal, El Nido, Palawan, Anilao, and Zambales and observe the beautiful moon and stars. But, of course, you can appreciate the moon by looking out at your window to see the shiny and glorious moon.

• Participate and Learn More About the Cultural Activities

As a Chinoy, the best way to preserve the culture and tradition is to be proactive in participating or learning more about the cultural activities of the Mooncake Festival. During the festival, there are storytelling, traditional music performances, and dance shows related to the event. 

The internet also lets you watch videos and learn more about the culture that inspired the Mooncake Festival. For example, you can watch movies like Over the Moon on Netflix to gain knowledge and develop an appreciation for the tradition. 

Celebrating The Mooncake Festival 

Celebrating the Mooncake Festival 2024 will help us appreciate our Chinese heritage and culture. So, it’s admirable to participate proactively in the festivities, as they remind us how to value our people’s traditions. 

And before indulging yourself with mooncakes, remember the beautiful history of the Mooncake Festival.

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