Chinese ancestors believed that the 7^th, 8^th and 9^th lunar month belong to autumn. So the Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15^th day of the 8^th lunar month. The festival has a history of over 2000 years. The emperors prayed to Heaven for a prosperous year. They chose the morning of 15^th day of the 2^nd lunar month to worship the sun and the 15^th day of the 8^th lunar month to hold a ceremony (sacrifice) in praise of the moon. Farmers have just joyfully finished their bumper harvest gathering and they sit together chatting and sharing offerings to the moon.

             The legend goes: Long time ago, a terrible drought plagued the earth. Ten suns burned fiercely in the sky like smoldering volcanoes. The trees and grass were scorched. The land was cracked and parched, and rivers ran dry. Many people died of hunger and thirst.

             The King of Heaven sent Hou Yi (后羿) down to the earth to help who used red bow and white arrows and shot down 9 suns one after another. The weather immediately turned cooler. Heavy rains filled the rivers with fresh water and the grass and trees turned green. People were saved.

             One day he met Chang’e （嫦娥）, a beautiful girl. They exchanged gifts: Chang’e gave him a beautiful flower and Hou Yi gave her silver fox fur. This meeting kindles the sparks of their love and soon after that they got married. Hou Yi went to the Kunlun Mountains where the Western Queen Mother （西王母娘）lives and she awarded him elixir of life. She tells him: “If you and your wife share the elixir, you will both enjoy eternal life. But if only one of you takes it, that one will ascend to Heaven and become immortal.”

             The couple decide to drink the elixir together on the 15^th day of the 8^th lunar month. A wicked and merciless man named Feng Meng hears about their plan. He kills Hou Yi and forces Chang’e to give him the elixir. Chang’e, without hesitation, picks up the elixir and drinks it all. With grief, she rushes to her husband’s side, weeping bitterly. Soon the elixir begins to have its effect and Chang’e feels herself being lifted towards Heaven. Chang’e decides to live on the moon because it is nearest to the earth. There she lives a simple and contented life.

             For thousands of years, the Chinese people have related the vicissitudes of life to changes of the moon as it waxes and wanes: joy and sorrow, parting and reunion. Because the full moon is round and symbolizes reunion, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also known as the festival of reunion.

             People in different parts of China have different ways to celebrate the festival. But one traditional custom has definitely remained and is shared by all the Chinese. This is eating the festive specialty: cakes shaped like the moon.

             In the 14^th century, Chinese peasants could no longer bear the cruel rule of Mongolians. They secretly planned an uprising on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The peasants leaders took the advantage of the custom of sending moon-cakes as festive presents. They put messages inside the moon-cakes. So all the peasants were informed and they won the battle.

             There are various kinds of moon-cakes with different flavors. Guangdong moon-cakes are perhaps the most delicately made. The fillings are carefully selected and include sesame, almond and walnut kernels, shredded coconut, lotus seeds and egg yolk.