(中秋节)
The Definations -Mid-Autumn Festival is also known as “Harvest Festival”, which is one of the most well known Chinese Festival none other than the “moon festival”
The Date -The date of Mid-autumn Festival also known as Chinese Moon Festival is on the 15th moon day of 8th Chinese lunar month
Family members and friends will gather to admire the bright mid-autumn moon and have mooncakes and pomelos with sip on tea together. They will also play with lanterns and sparkles. Mooncakes symbolise the closeness, harmony and family unity. Pomelos in chinese “Yu” homophonous with the words “protections” expressing the hope that the moon will give them protection. On this day, the moon will be rounder and brighter.
There is a legend story behind, The Story of Chang Er (嫦娥).
Photo credit to Chinatownlogy.
Chang Er is a beautiful lady. She was married to Hou Yi, a skilled archer. They were a lovely couple.
There were 10 suns that take turns circling the earth every 10 days. When all the 10 suns circled, it will cause the earth’s surface to burn and threaten mankind. Hou Yi was instructed to kill 9 of the suns with his reowned arrows. He succeed and was rewarded the pill, elixir of life. When he reached home, he hid the pill under his rafter.
One day when he was out for hunting, his wife Chang Er discovered the pill and swallowed it. She found herself flying. Just at that moment, Hou Yi realized what had happened. Chang Er flew out of the window into the sky. He sped after her but was returned back to the earth due to the huge force of the wind.
Chang Er reached the moon breathlessly and coughed out part of the pill. She commanded a rabbit which was sitting under the tree to pound the pill into million pieces so that everyone on earth can share in her elixir life. Hou Yi built a palace in the sun as Yang (the sun and the male principle) and Chang Er as Yin (the moon and the female principle).
Once a year on the 15th day of the full moon, Hou Yi will visit Chang Er. That is why the moon is full and bright on the Mid-Autumn Festival. You will get the see Chang Er and the rabbit images stamped on mooncakes or giftboxes during this festival.
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Mooncake Recipes
Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake By Yan Can Cook, Inc
Makes 2 dozen
1 can (17-1/2 ounces) lotus seed paste
1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
Dough
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2-cup non-fat dried milk powder
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 cup sugar 1/2 cup solid shortening, melted and cooled
1 egg yolk , lightly beaten
Method
1. Mix lotus seed paste and walnuts together in a bowl; set aside.
2. Sift flour, milk powder, baking powder, and salt together into a bowl. In large bowl of electric mixer, beat eggs on medium speed until light and lemon colored. Add sugar; beat for 10 minutes or until mixture falls in a thick ribbon. Add melted shortening; mix lightly. With a spatula, fold in flour mixture. Turn dough out on a lightly floured board; knead for 1 minute or until smooth and satiny. Divide dough in half; roll each half into a log. Cut each log into 12 equal pieces.
3. To shape each moon cake, roll a piece of dough into a ball. Roll out on a lightly floured board to make a 4-inch circle about 1/8-inch thick. Place 1 tablespoon of lotus seed paste mixture in center of dough circle. Fold in sides of dough to completely enclose filling; press edges to seal. Lightly flour inside of moon cake press with 2-1/2 inch diameter cups. Place moon cake, seam side up, in mold; flatten dough to conform to shape of mold. Bang one end of mold lightly on work surface to dislodge moon cake. Place cake on ungreased baking sheet. Repeat to shape remaining cakes. Brush tops with egg yolk.
4. Bake in a preheated 375 degree F. oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to a rack and let cool.
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