Harvest Moon Festival
I was expecting to see Marjorie or Eva write about this, because it's one of the most important Chinese Festivals, but I was delighted to read about it on Siow Chin's blig. It's celebrated with these ultra sweet, ultra rich, yummy (it's an acquired taste) cakes.
Traditionally celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. When I was a child, my mother would light incense and put the cakes out under the moonlight. We would then sit outside watching the incense burn, before devouring the cakes. (The Chinese are practical, the moon goddess only need know that we were there to honour her and offer her the cakes, she's actually delighted that we were there to eat them.) The best cakes are reputed to be baked in Hong Kong and flown that day to the US and UK.
The cakes are symbolic of unity, as legend had it that it was used by the Han Chinese to deliver the secret message that coordinated the attack that led to the overthrowing of their Mongol rulers. We celebrate this unity by coming together to share the cakes. This year, the harvest moon festival was celebrated on the 28th of September and my husband brought me a moon cake. (wasn't that sweet of him, he tries to do this every year and one year we ended up with almond cookies instead since in came in a similar tin and he was in a hurry)
Making Waves
All that time spent travelling around and always with my camera meant I've got a lot more pictures to download. I did want to point out that while I was away, I did manage to do some knitting. In fact, I even finished my making waves socks. This is the second pattern in the six sox knit-along. I haven't touched bomber in weeks, but then again, I wasn't going to tote half a kg of yarn with me to the US either.
So I present the finished making waves.
Since some of you have mentioned in the past that I really ought to show my FO's worn instead of of draped, so I assembled various family members to pose, just for your viewing pleasure.
Polly, what beautiful socks, and so well modelled by all the family. Nephew Kris looks just as delicious as the moon cake. He is growing more adorable by the minute.
Posted by: Louise at October 1, 2004 12:59 PMVery interesting post Polly, I love it when you tell us more about these traditions which make it so enriching to live multiculturally. And the cake looks very apetizing, as well as your nephew ;-) the socks look great too, of course!
Posted by: Stéphanie at September 30, 2004 08:46 PMReally interesting post Polly and great socks -but when it comes to modelling I'm afraid you and your mum are completely outshone !
Posted by: Heather at September 30, 2004 08:24 PMGreat post.Really interesting.The cake looks great.
Fab socks ! Gorgeous nephew !
Now that I no longer work in/near Chinatown I don't know when these celebrations are happening! I like moon cakes, and generally anything containing lots of egg yolks. Do they have poppy seeds in the filling also or am I mixing up my treats?
ADORABLE BAGGY-SOCK MODEL! xoxoxo Kay
Posted by: Kay at September 30, 2004 01:44 PMthat cake sure looks yummy enough!
and the socks are wonderful; i love the colours. cute nephew you've got there, too!
Posted by: kris at September 30, 2004 09:07 AMHi Polly,
For weight control reason, I didn't eat any traditional moon cake this year. I ate a little bit Iced mooncake. No lantern playing too. (I used to have a lantern every year). I enjoyed the mid Autumn Festival peacefully at home with some knitting and TV program.
The wave socks look great. I want to knit a pair for myself too !
Happy mid Autumn Festival !
Eva
Posted by: Eva Shiu at September 30, 2004 08:47 AMWe celebrate the Harvest Moon festival too with moon cakes and lanterns.
Kids will take their little paper latenrs in the shape of all things imaginable ( I saw a spiderman one the other day) and parade around the neighbourhood. Let me see if I can scrounge up a picture for my blog.
What a lovely mooncake and what a lovely photo! Thank you for sharing...we're having a Harvest Moon, and it's HUGE!
P.S. That is one of the cutest nephews I've ever seen, and I KNOW cute nephews.
Posted by: Lisa at September 30, 2004 04:14 AMIt's great to read about the mid-autumn festival on your blog. You always explain things so clearly. And your husband is really sweet to buy you the mooncake! It looks delicious.
Posted by: Siow Chin at September 30, 2004 02:06 AMI dont know if I could acquire the taste for a cake filled with 4 egg yolks or not... but that nephew with the socks yeah he is cute enough to eat :)
Posted by: stinkerbell at September 30, 2004 01:41 AMYay for the August Moon Festival! I enjoyed reading your bit about it and had intended to blurb a wee bit later on my blog. Brought a moon cake in to work today and shared. It makes me so happy that some of my colleagues were willing to try something new and different. Yay for wonderful cultural treats!
Those socks are lovely--especially on Kris's little tootsies!
Posted by: Rossana at September 29, 2004 11:12 PM