Lantern party at school

Last night, Caitlin's school held a lantern party in conjunction with the coming Mooncake Festival. This festival is also known as the Mid-autumn festival and falls on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. People normally celebrate it with mooncakes and lanterns.

There are many versions to the origin and legend behind this Chinese festival. One that is widely known is the story of Houyi, a powerful archer whose beautiful wife was banished to the moon. It was said that long ago, there were 10 suns which took turns to shine but one day, all 10 suns appeared simultaneously and scorched the earth. Houyi saved the earth by shooting down nine suns and became King. He turned into a tyrant and stole an elixir of life from a goddess but his wife, Chang-e discovered it. She drank the elixir and floated up to the moon. Houyi was saddened and because of his love for his wife, he did not shoot the moon down.

It drizzled last night so all the kids were disappointed they could not parade their lanterns around the neighbourhood where the school is located.

Rained in

We stayed indoors and participated in a story-telling session, family telematch (our team won!) and DIY mooncake. Caitlin made a little 'snowskin' pink mooncake with help from a teacher.

Caitlin's mooncake