If you visit any Chinatown around the world, from London to Sydney, from San Francisco to New York, it is likely that you will find “Moon Cake” at the Chinese pastry shops.
What is “Moon Cake”. Really, it is just a round wheat flour pastry, shape of the moon, with a rich thick filling of sweet red bean or lotus seed paste. Some moon cakes may also contain one up to four yolks of salted duck eggs which elevate the quality of this pastry. Round shape symbolizes completeness and reunion.
Cantonese Square Moon Cake with Double Salted Duck Yolks 
Traditional Round Moon Cakes
Traditionally, moon cakes are eaten during The Mid-Autumn Festival, one of four most important Chinese festivals. It is a time when families and acquaintances exchange moon cakes as a gesture of friendship, and a time to get together to admire the moon. In Hong Kong, young lovers try to find high spots, such as the roof of a building or the top of a hill or mountain, to be physically a bit closer to the moon, to romantically watch the moon and to pray for their wishes to come true.
There are several legends surrounding moon cakes.
One had it that the Han Chinese revolutionaries circulated a secret message stuffed inside moon cakes, to orchestrate the overthrow of the ruling Mongols on Mid-Autumn Day. Kublai Khan, a grandson of Genghis Khan, ruled China under the Yuan Dynasty from 1279 to 1368.
Another legend “Chang’e flying to the moon”. Long time ago there were ten Suns which excessive heat dried up plants and killed people. Hou Yi, an accomplished archer, shot nine Suns down, thus saving the world. The Queen Mother of the time awarded Hou Yi a bottle of elixir, fit for one person only, which when taken would make the person immortal and leave the world. Hou Yi preferred to stay with his lovely wife, rather than becoming immortal. One day when Hou Yi was out hunting, Pang Meng, one of his disciples tried to snatch the elixir from Chang’e. Chang’e did not want Pang Meng to have the elixir, and instead drunk it herself. She became immortal and decided to fly to the moon where she could be close enough to earth to watch over her husband.
Another legend, The Jade Rabbit, goes like this. Once upon a time, there were three animals living in a forest, a fox, a monkey and a rabbit. Three Immortals, disguising as beggars, approached the three animals, and asked for food. The fox and the monkey offered them food. The rabbit who was less resourceful had nothing to offer. She said: “Sorry, I don’t have any food to offer but I can offer myself”. Then she jumped into the fire. The three Immortals were deeply touched by the Rabbit’s virtue and decided to make her an immortal and sending her to live in the Moon Palace.
The Mid-Autumn Festival, also called the Moon Festival or the Mooncake Festival, is celebrated on the 15th of the 8th Month of the Lunar Calendar, when the moon is at its fullest and brightest. In the Gregorian calendar it is in September or early October. On this day people celebrated and felt grateful for a good harvest, similarly to the Western Thanksgiving Day. Today Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated as a reunion for family. It is not uncommon for children living overseas to fly back home to unite with their parents to enjoy a family meal followed by moon cake.
Children are particularly excited about The Mid-Autumn Festival, not only a time to enjoy the moon cake, but also a time to go to the park, amidst all other children, each carrying and showcasing his or her own brightly lit colourful paper lantern, flower or animal shaped, rabbit being a favourite.
Shop in Hong Kong Selling Colourful Paper Lanterns during Mid-Autumn Festival 
Vietnamese Children Celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival
In Hong Kong there is the popular “Tai Hang Fire Dragon” dance. Here is the origin.
Around 100 years ago, the people of Tai Hang were afflicted by a series of bad luck, first the typhoon disaster, then the plague and the livestock eating pythons. A soothsayer decreed that the only way to stop this calamity was to stage a fire dance for three days and nights during the upcoming “Autumn Festival”. The villagers made a huge dragon from straw and covered it with lit incense joss sticks. For three days and nights the dragon danced, accompanied by the sounds of cymbals and drums and firecrackers. At the end of three days the plague had disappeared. This tradition continues till this day, displaying an impressive 67 metres long straw dragon, attracting thousands of locals as well as tourists.
The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance 
A 67 Metres Long Straw Dragon Covered with Lit Incense Joss Sticks
Tai Hang was a small village within the district of Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island. This place is dear to my heart because my wife grew up there, and as a family we spent some memorable moments in Tai Hang.
