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Mid-Autumn Festival beyond China: how other Asian countries celebrate it, what they eat and the myths and legends associated with it
- The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated throughout East Asia. We take a look at how it is celebrated in five countries
- In Thailand, people give each other peach-shaped cakes. In Japan, the festival’s legend focuses on a mochi-making rabbit that lives on the moon
Reading Time:4 minutes
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The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month – which in 2022 is September 10. The festival is celebrated by cultures throughout East Asia, and by Chinese immigrants and their descendants in Southeast Asian countries.
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We take a look at how it is celebrated in five countries.
Thailand
The Moon Praying Festival has a traditional tale far different from the one told in Hong Kong of Chang’e and her ascent to the moon.
Legend has it that, on the night of the festival, the Eight Immortals – legendary figures in traditional Chinese culture – fly to the Moon Palace to give peaches and their birthday greetings to Guanyin, the Chinese deity of mercy and compassion.
As such, families pray to the moon and gift each other peach-shaped cakes during the festival.
Many Mid-Autumn traditions remain the same – mooncakes, especially durian-flavoured ones, are popular. Another commonly seen food is the grapefruit-like pomelo, as its round shape is symbolic of reunions and gatherings.
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