Mid-Autumn Festival a time for togetherness

So much has the Mid-Autumn Festival become associated with the marketing of moon cakes that the festival itself is often called "the moon cake festival" in English. Although these rich snacks are the festival's most visible symbol, its cultural significance goes very much deeper. Some of the best known Tang poems, taught to children even as they learn to speak, are associated with mid-autumn. The emotional appeal is one of "togetherness," whether for family, friends or lovers ? for this is a night when the moon is full and bright, a powerful symbol of unity standing in the night sky, visible to everyone.

There are also numerous legends associated with mid-autumn, from the many variations of Chang-O's flight to the moon and her lonely tenure in the Palace of Great Cold, replete with images of ambition, jealousy, thwarted passion and loneliness, all calculated to provide the occasion with great story-telling potential.

Moon-gazing over the ages has also given rise to tales with similar roots to the West's Man on the Moon, but in the Chinese case, Wu Kang faces the Sisyphian task of chopping down a cassia tree that constantly re-grows. Then there is a rabbit that goes about compounding an elixir of immortality. All this adds color to the late night nibbling at melon seeds and chatting with friends and relatives.

On a more practical level, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a time of thanksgiving, many rural folk making a special offering to the earth god for his good offices through the year. Each locality has its own special customs for the celebration of mid-autumn, and many new events have also been organized to appeal to a new generation.

Some Mid-Autumn Festival events:

Miaoli Chiting Beach

(苗栗崎頂海水浴場)

Sun/10 3pm Mid-Autumn Moonlight Beach Party (中秋沙灘月光Party), includes Taipei EZ Band live performance; Special kite display and model kites show by Hsinchu kite association; Turkey BBQ. (台北EZ樂團現場表演、新竹市特技風箏協會成員表演特技風箏及各式趣味造型風箏、土耳其名廚將提供你道地的土耳其美食"轉烤肉.") NT$600 for enter by 3pm and NT$500 for enter by 5pm; tel (03) 564-1618 ext. 205.

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Plaza (中正紀念堂藝文廣場)

Tues/12 7:30pm Mid-Autumn Outdoor Festival: A Blazing Pili Puppet Show (中秋戶外活動 -- 請看霹靂好戲,霹靂布袋戲); tel 2343-7647.

The Royal Balibay (地中海國際中心)

Tues/12 Mid-Autumn Festival Karaoke Competition (月亮嘉年華Party -- 卡拉ＯＫ大賽); NT$850 for adults and NT$650 for children. 45-67, Lunghsing, Lungyuan Village, Pali, Taipei County (台北縣八里鄉龍源村龍形46-67號); tel 2618-5005 ext. 102 or 103.

Kaohsiung Municipal Social Education Hall

(高雄市立社教館露天劇場)

Tues/12 7:30pm to 10:30pm Mid-Autumn Festival outdoor concert (小港夜未眠 -- 0"中秋月韻飄香情"露天音樂會). 115 Hsuehfu Rd., Hsiaokang District, Kaohsiung City (高雄市小港區學府路115號); tel (07) 803-4473 ext. 208.