Moon Festival
The moon festival is also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival. It is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese calendar. This year, the moon festival is on 09/22/10. This is the day that the moon is the fullest. Traditionally, families gather to light incense sticks and eat mooncakes. Celebration is associated with the legend of the moon goddess of immortality.
The general legend of a time when ten suns were circling the earth, burning its surface. The Jade Emperor asked the archer Houyi to shoot down 9 of the 10 suns and rewarded him a pill of immortality. He was advised to pray and fast for a year before he could eat it. However, his wife discovered the pill and took it before he did, granting her eternal life and the ability to fly. She escaped and flew to the moon where she now resides with the hare, attempting to remake the pill so that her husband can join her. On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Houyi visits his wife, which is why the moon is so bright that night.
The general legend of a time when ten suns were circling the earth, burning its surface. The Jade Emperor asked the archer Houyi to shoot down 9 of the 10 suns and rewarded him a pill of immortality. He was advised to pray and fast for a year before he could eat it. However, his wife discovered the pill and took it before he did, granting her eternal life and the ability to fly. She escaped and flew to the moon where she now resides with the hare, attempting to remake the pill so that her husband can join her. On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Houyi visits his wife, which is why the moon is so bright that night.
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is also known as the Lunar New Year. It starts on the first day of the first month of the Chinese calendar and is the longest and most important festivity, lasting 15 days. Different years are assigned a specific animal based on the 12 animals from the Chinese Zodiac. Along with an animal, there is also one of five elements of Chinese astrology: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. The next new year is going to fall on 02/03/11, the year of the rabbit.
The origin of Chinese New Year tells of a mythical beast called the Nien. The creature would devour villagers and livestock on the first day of every year unless the villagers prepared food for him outside their homes. One year, the Nien was scared away by a child wearing red. This led the people to believe that it is afraid of the color, so red lanterns and scrolls were put up to scare the Nien away.
A popular symbol of Chinese New Year is the red envelope (hong bao), given to children by the elders. These envelopes contain money and can range from a few dollars to a couple hundred. Last year, the Chinese Culture Club distributed these red packets with candy and money inside.
The origin of Chinese New Year tells of a mythical beast called the Nien. The creature would devour villagers and livestock on the first day of every year unless the villagers prepared food for him outside their homes. One year, the Nien was scared away by a child wearing red. This led the people to believe that it is afraid of the color, so red lanterns and scrolls were put up to scare the Nien away.
A popular symbol of Chinese New Year is the red envelope (hong bao), given to children by the elders. These envelopes contain money and can range from a few dollars to a couple hundred. Last year, the Chinese Culture Club distributed these red packets with candy and money inside.