Happy Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, usually in early September to early October of the Gregorian calendar with full moon at night. It is a time for family members and loved ones to congregate and enjoy the full moon - an auspicious symbol of abundance, harmony and luck. Today is the day!

每年农历八月十五日，是传统的中秋佳节。这时是一年秋季的中期，所以被称为中秋。在这天，每个家庭都团聚在一起，一家人共同观赏象征丰裕、和谐和幸运的圆月。

This festival originated in a fairy tale. A hero names Hou Yi saved his people by shooting down the other nine suns that burned his people to death. He was then bestowed with the elixir of immor tality by the Queen Mother of the West. He did not want to consume the elixir and leave his beautiful but very mortal wife, Chang Er, so he gave the elixir to his wife for safekeeping. 

中秋节起源于一个神话故事。传说古时候，天空曾有10个太阳，酷热难挡。弓箭手后翌射下了其中9个太阳，拯救了地球上的生灵。因此他得到了西王母赐予他的长生不死药，并交于妻子嫦娥保管。

（后羿射日）

Unfortunately, Hou Yi's disloyal apprentice forced Chang Er to swallow the elixir. She then became a supernatural being. She flew to the moon, and from there watched her husband. 

不幸地是，嫦娥被后羿一个不忠的学徒所迫，而吞下了长生不老药，飞升成仙，只能从月宫遥望他的丈夫。

（嫦娥奔月）

Knowing that his wife had now been separated from him, Hou Yi was crazed with grief. Looking up at the moon one night, he saw a figure like his wife. He hurriedly took cakes and succade (preserves in sugar, whether fruits, vegetables, or confections) as offerings to his wife. Upon hearing this, people developed the custom of watching the moon and eating moon cakes annually on this day.

后羿非常思念自己的妻子，某天当他凝望着月亮的时候，他看到了一个像极了嫦娥的身影。于是连忙把蛋糕和蜜饯献给嫦娥，这就是最早的月饼。此后，在这一天赏月和吃月饼就成为了每年的习俗。

（后羿造饼）

Activities include watching the moon, enjoying the displays of lanterns, and eating moon cakes. People eat moon cakes under the moonlight with family members. Moon cakes are pastries filled with gooey sesame, red bean, and walnut meats.

中秋节是全家团圆团圆的日子，家人们一起包括赏月、赏花灯以及吃月饼。