MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL (IN SPRING)!

Falling on the 15th day of the 8th month according to the Chinese lunar calendar, the Mid-Autumn Festival is the second grandest festival after the Spring Festival in China. It takes its name from the fact that it is always celebrated in the middle of the autumn season. The day is also known as the Moon Festival, as at that time of the year the moon is at its roundest and brightest.

On the festival day, family members gather to offer sacrifice to the moon, appreciate the bright full moon, eat moon cakes, and express strong yearnings toward family members and friends who live afar. In addition, there are some other customs like playing lanterns, and dragon and lion dances in some regions. The unique customs of ethnic minorities are interesting as well, such as “chasing the moon” of Mongolians, and “steal vegetables or fruits” of the Dong people.

In 2015, the Festival falls on September 26 - 27. In Melbourne's Southbank, the red Chinese lanterns lend a festive air to the promenade along the Yarra River and help set the celebratory mood. More on this Festival here.

This post is part of the Saturday Silhouettes meme,
and also part of the Weekend Reflections meme.