Celebrations

The Mid-autumn Festival is held in conjunction with the worship of the God of Heaven. On this night, many houses are illuminated with lanterns, and feasts and dance parties are held on a grand scale. In Chinese tradition and literature, a full moon symbolises completeness and is associated with family reunion. The month of the festival is a popular time for family gatherings with traditional activities such as “moon viewing” (shangyue) and lantern-carrying.As part of the celebrations, many organisations organise community festivities where senior citizens, children and adults alike are invited to partake in delicious mooncakes, go for moonlit walks, and watch traditional Chinese performances. Some common performances include Chinese dance, Chinese opera, cross-talk and puppetry.Offerings of mooncake and pomelo are made to the moon. Thirteen types of offerings to the moon, signifying the number of months in a full lunar year, are prepared by the female members of the family. Each offering has its own significance. Cosmetics may also be placed on the altar in the belief that it would beautify the user.During the festival, people also admire osmanthus flowers, which are regarded as a symbol of purity and innocence. Osmanthus flowers usually bloom during the festival period.