In belated recognition of the Mid-Autumn Festival, traditionally celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calender (celebrated this year on October 3), here are photographs of luscious mooncakes, the delicacies associated with the festival, from Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=mooncake&w=all#page=0
The Mid-Autumn Festival commemorates the autumnal equinox, when the moon is roundest and brightest, and was historically celebrated as a harvest festival. A legend associated with the festival is that of the valorous Hou Yi and his beautiful wife Chang'e. One variation of the tale posits that Hou Yi was an archer who shot down nine of the ten suns in the sky, thereby saving the earth's crops from being scorched by the extra suns. As a reward, Hou Yi was subsequently gifted with an elixir for immortality. However, unbeknownst to him, his wife Chang'e swallowed the elixir, which promptly caused her to float up to the heavens and onto the moon. Only on the days when the moon is fullest is Hou Yi able to visit his wife.
Therefore, eating the round delicacies known as mooncakes commemorates the reunion between Hou Yi and Chang'e. Mooncakes measure between 3-4 inches in diameter and are about 2 inches thick. They consist of a thin, dense crust filled with sweet fillings such as red bean paste or lotus seed paste. The skin is then imprinted with characters or decorative motifs. New-fangled mooncakes may be filled with green tea or coffee-flavored fillings, and even ice cream. Their popularity and ubiquity in China is such that they can even be ordered at Starbuck's alongside a cup of joe.
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