The history of mooncakes
Today, September 21, we celebrate the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival or more popularly known as the Mooncake Festival. Yes, it's that time of the year when we get to indulge in the traditional Chinese dessert, the mooncake.
But have you ever wondered what exactly the mooncake is made of, why is it called such, and why do Chinese people eat them during the Mid-Autumn Festival? Well, in this article, GMA Lifestyle explores the amazing origin of the Chinese mooncakes, as well as its historical and cultural significance. So, read on to learn more about the world-famous Chinese pastry.
Do mooncakes have anything to do with the moon? / Source: Pexels
Origins
In case you haven't seen or tried one yet, mooncakes are bite-sized dense cakes filled with sweet beans, meat or lotus seed paste, and salted egg yolk from duck eggs.
The rich Chinese dessert is a staple food during Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations. Hence, its other more popular name, the Mooncake Festival.
It dates all the way back to the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368 AD) and there are two known origin stories of the mooncakes: one is based on a fable and another is based on a legend connected to the Han Chinese revolutionaries.
The Chinese fable tells the story of Chang'e, who was the wife of Hou Yi, a heroic archer who unfortunately turned into a tyrannical leader. Fearful of what her husband has become, Chang'e allegedly stole and drank the elixir of immortality from her husband and escaped to the moon. Although he tried to stop her by shooting arrows at her, she successfully makes it to the moon and becomes the goddess residing in it.
This is why when the Chinese people celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, they marvel at the moon and remember the moon goddess Chang'e.
The other origin story of the mooncakes is tied to the Han Chinese revolutionaries who led an uprising during the Yuan Dynasty. Legend has it that the revolutionaries would put hidden messages in mooncakes to deceive their Mongolian overlords. The secret messages that encouraged people to “rise up and revolt on the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival” are said to be either hidden inside the mooncakes or embossed on its crust.
How do the Chinese people celebrate the Mooncake Festival? / Source: Pexels
Traditions and festivities
The Mid-Autumn Festival is observed every year to mark the end of the harvest season. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month in the lunar calendar. This year it falls on September 21, Tuesday.
It is the second most important holiday for the Chinese people next to the Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year, and it's also a time when they express their gratitude for a bountiful harvest.
The Chinese people usually celebrate it by worshipping the moon, which is said to be at its fullest and brightest around this time. Some say the mooncake is called such because of its resemblance to a full moon.
Aside from admiring the beauty of the moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Chinese people also tell folk stories to the young ones and feast on mooncakes. Some also give mooncakes as gifts to their loved ones, friends, or colleagues.
Moreover, some mooncakes are decorated with motifs depicting the moon goddess Chang'e and her pet rabbit.
Plus, others also set up an open-air altar facing the moon with new pastries and fruits in it, so that Chang'e could bless them.
Symbolisms
It is believed that the egg yolk in the center of a mooncake symbolizes the hidden message that was secretly passed on by the Han Chinese revolutionaries.
Plus, the intricate designs etched in a mooncake's crust are also believed to be inspired by the historical revolutionary messages hidden in mooncakes back in the time of the Yuan Dynasty.
Meanwhile, the tradition of giving mooncakes as gifts are said to symbolize prosperity and unity in the family. So, in essence, the mooncake is the Chinese people's version of the fruitcake.
Who knew the famous Chinese pastry had so many interesting stories, as well as historical and cultural significance, right? We bet you'll never look at mooncakes the same way again.
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, everyone!
For more lifestyle content, head out to GMA's Lifestyle page.
If you need to buy more mooncakes for your Mid-Autumn Festival celebration? You can try your luck and see if some are still available on GMA Lifestyle's list.
Source:
https://www.theloophk.com/a-story-of-war-and-mooncakes/
https://www.lamag.com/digestblog/legend-chinese-mooncake/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chang%27e#In_popular_culture
https://mythopedia.com/chinese-mythology/gods/chang-e/