This is our first official holiday since we arrived and apparently 1.3 billion people are on holiday too!!!
Well to be exact this week is the Chinese Moon Festival which is as everybody knows on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month…. Don’t go get your calendar I can reveal to you that this year it’s on October 6th. At this time the moon is at its fullest and brightest, marking an ideal time to celebrate the abundance of the summer harvest.
It is also know as the Mid-Autumn Festival or中秋节(zhong1 qiu1 jie2). Just like Christmas or Thanksgiving, it is one of the most important events for the Chinese since it is often an occasion for family reunions. The other important event being the Lunar New Year and this is one of their 3 weeks of vacation they are entitled to.
Since the traditional food of this festival is the Moon Cake, the exchange of boxes full of 月饼 (yue bing) have started. Jeffrey brings home a full box almost every other night and we are waiting with great anticipation the opening of the new moon cakes to discover the next exotic flavor (savory or sweet you can either get ham, sausage or nut, almonds etc... the choices are endless)
That reminds me I’d better go buy some to give to our driver and our ayi.
We can save you some if you want!!!
