The Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋節) falls on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar and, weather permitting, it could be more than just a day off work. Traditionally marked with family gatherings to gaze at the moon and eat moon cakes (月餅), the Autumn holiday has been transformed to take on other outdoor social activities such as barbecuing and, this year in Taipei, experimental theater. Here is a small guide to your options for the day.
Barbecues
Barbecues have been a commercial success for supermarkets and markets that sell meats and vegetables, best reflected in the number of shops selling disposable barbecues and equipment along with pre-skewered and packaged foods.
There is, however, no significant cultural or historical reason behind this now common practice of barbecuing for the Mid-Autumn festival.
House and store fronts where people would once place stools and small tables filled with mooncakes and cups of tea to be shared by family members are now taken up by small barbecues with skewers of meat, tofu, and vegetables.
The sidewalk may not provide an ideal location for a barbecue feast but it is quickly becoming the only legal one. Surprisingly (considering the number of people who do it), barbecuing in all city and natural parks is illegal, but until a proposed bill passes for a NT$1,500 fine, police can only ask individuals to clean up and go home.
Mooncakes
Mooncakes have been a key part of Mid-Autumn celebrations dating back to the Yuan Dynasty (1280 to 1368). According to popular legend, leaders from the preceding Sung dynasty (960 to 1280) were unhappy with their Mongolian rulers and wanted to coordinate a rebellion without being discovered.
Mooncakes, traditionally unpalatable to Mongolians, were distributed to potential rebels. Upon eating them they found a message inside detailing a uprising to be held on the 15th day of the eighth month.
In place of the revolutionary notes, today there are a range of equally controversial fillings. More traditional cakes include lotus seed, red bean, green bean or black bean paste with a salty yolk in the middle to represent the full moon, while more elaborate cakes range from fruit preservatives, nuts, green tea or dried meat variations to the latest and tastiest addition of ice cream mooncakes.
Events
Two of the largest outdoor celebrations taking place around the city are an avant-garde theater production and some wholesome family entertainment. Whatever it may be, public transport users can stay out a little bit later, as the MRT will extend its service by one hour, just one more reason to celebrate.
This year the Taipei City Government department of Civil Affairs is holding a family- oriented Mid-Autumn Festival of activities in the park today. The show is scheduled to open at 3pm. Geared towards afternoon and evening family entertainment, Chan Yi Chia (
In the evening there will be live entertainment with performances by Cheng Hsin-che (
People can bring their own food and drink or take advantage of the numerous, reasonably priced vendors that will be operating the entire day. When asked if there were would be any barbecuing on-site, Chan replied, "It's prohibited. And anyway, barbecuing is not a Chinese moon festival activity."
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