Honoring Tradition: Reflecting on Mooncakes and Memories During the Mid-Autumn Festival

Mooncakes and Memories: Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival

The Significance of the Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated today by people of Southeast and East Asian cultures, is a time of gathering with family and friends to enjoy good food and exchange mooncakes. This festival has deep historical roots, dating back thousands of years in ancient China when people worshipped the moon and made sacrifices to ensure a good harvest. The festival is associated with several myths, including the reunion of the Moon Goddess of Immortality, Chang’e, and her husband, the archer Hou Yi. It is believed that they can see each other once a year on the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Reconnecting with Culture and Traditions

For individuals like Jeffrey Tsang, who was born and raised in Hong Kong but currently working at Michigan State University, the Mid-Autumn Festival holds great personal significance. Tsang, an avid baker, celebrates the festival by gathering with loved ones and watching the moon. He explains that the festival always revolves around a big feast at home, with extended family coming together.

One central element of the Mid-Autumn Festival is the mooncake, a pastry that is typically filled and shaped to resemble the moon. Mooncakes come in various flavors and shapes, symbolizing the diversity of cultural traditions across different regions. For this year’s celebration, Tsang baked a mix of traditional Chinese mooncakes, including some innovative flavors like red bean, lotus paste, caramel almond, and honey pistachio.

Preserving Identity and Nurturing Connections to Heritage

Megan Schellong, reflecting on her own experience as a transracial adoptee, shares her journey of reconnecting with her Chinese culture and traditions. Growing up, she did not celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, but as she got older, she became more intentional in immersing herself in Chinese culture. This year, she decided to take on the challenge of baking her own mooncakes to honor her heritage and create new memories.

She collaborated with her friend Dorothy Xiao, who grew up celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival in Hángzhōu, China. Xiao’s experience highlights the emotional significance of mooncakes as a connection to her cultural roots and a reminder of where she came from. One year, when Xiao almost missed the festival due to her busy schedule, she realized the importance of having mooncakes as a way to reinforce her identity and stay connected to her culture.

Embracing Cultural Traditions and Sharing Heritage

The process of baking mooncakes, as Megan and Dorothy discovered, can present challenges. However, their determination to create these traditional treats led them to seek guidance from online resources. Even with a slight setback in the crumbliness of the dough, their efforts were rewarded when they successfully crafted mooncakes that received praise for their flavors and freshness.

This story illustrates the power of cultural traditions in shaping personal identity and fostering a sense of belonging. As generations pass and cultural traditions evolve, it is vital to preserve and celebrate our heritage. Cultural celebrations like the Mid-Autumn Festival provide an opportunity to bridge generations and pass on valuable traditions to younger individuals, ensuring the continuity of cultural identities.

Advice: Embrace Cultural Exploration and Celebrate Diversity

For individuals looking to immerse themselves in their own cultural heritage or explore the cultural traditions of others, events like the Mid-Autumn Festival offer a valuable starting point. Engaging in cultural celebrations, trying traditional foods, and learning the stories behind these traditions can create meaningful connections to cultural heritage. By developing a deeper understanding and appreciation for different cultures, we can foster empathy, promote inclusivity, and celebrate the rich traditions that shape our global community.

As communities become more diverse, cultural awareness and understanding are increasingly important. Encouraging cultural exploration and celebrating diversity can lead to a more compassionate and harmonious society. This celebration of cultural traditions, like the Mid-Autumn Festival, can be a catalyst for building bridges, forging connections, and nurturing a collective sense of belonging.