Mid Autumn Festival

For those of you who do not know, the Mid Autumn Festival is just around the corner. From where I come from (Malaysia for those of you wondering...) they call it Lantern Festival. As the name implies it is normally held in the middle of autumn and this year, should be around 15 September. However, this year would be the first year I'd celebrate it overseas (Japan for those of you wondering..)

Full moon

It is this time of the month where people harvest their crops. This began as people merely worshiping the Mountain Gods after the harvest as sign of gratitude. However, there is a much more interesting tale that people believed to be the origin of this tradition.

Long ago, people believed that there were ten sun that rose above and cause disaster to the people. However a hero named Hou Yi, armed with his bow and arrow shot down nine of them, leaving one for sunlight to provide heat and light for the people. He was then presented with the elixir of immortality. However he decided not to consume it, choosing to stay by his wife Chang'e and left the elixir in her safekeeping. Knowing this, his apprentice, tried to steal the elixir. Yi's wife, trying to prevent this, consume the elixir herself and became immortal which caused her to fly all the way up. She chose moon as her new home, wanting to stay near to his lover. Hearing this, Hou Yi wa saddened and gave offerings in the form of fruits and cake to her since that day. The people who soon learned about this sympathized with Hou Yi chose to participate in the sacrifice to Chang.

This year would be the first time I spend this festive season away from home. However, like how the glass is always half full, this is the opportunity for me to finally play my role in introducing this tradition to foreigner (Japanese in case you're new here). And also, I have friends whom I can enjoy celebrating this annual festival with me (in case you  guys are reading) so no regrets here at all :)

A trip by the river