Mid-Autumn Festival 中秋節 (zhōng qiū jié) is celebrated by many Asian cultures, held on the night with the brightest full moon, the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, during harvest time. This year it is on September 17th.
As one of the biggest holidays in Asia, it is like Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, and Easter all rolled into one. Family and friends gather together over traditional food, make offerings to ancestors, and eat mooncake while admiring the full moon. People may celebrate slightly differently from country to country, region to region, but many eat and drink while waiting for the moon to reach its fullest roundest circle, which symbolizes harmonious union.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is also the time for harvesting crops.
On the evening of Saturday, September 14th, we welcome you to gather over tea and mooncakes from local bakers Bakesum, moon stories and poems, and good company. If the skies are clear, we will try to watch the moon rise from our courtyard! Bring any poems or stories of your own that you would like to share with the group.
Tea selection:
Pre-rain Dragonwell-Green Tea, China
Shan Lin Xi Autumn Honey Dew - Oolong Tea, Taiwan
Ruby 18 Red/Black Tea, Taiwan
2015 Ancient Tree Jing Mai Moonlight White, China
Low-caffeine and herbal teas will be provided upon request.
