Mid-Autumn Festival foods

The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, usually in October in Gregorian calendar. The festival is an evening celebration when families stay together to light lanterns, eat moon cakes and appreciate the round moon. On that night, the moon appears to be at its roundest and brightest. The full moon is a symbol for family reunion, which is why that day is also known as the Festival of Reunion.

A moon cake is a delicately-stuffed round cake that is delicious and nice to look at. The cake is often given as a gift between family and friends during the festival to show greetings. A small cake is a carrier of good wishes between family members, the eagerness to join family reunion of those away from home and people's praying for happiness.

Besides mooncakes, lotus root foods, taro, grapefruit, peanut and crabs are often served during the Mid-Autumn Festival. It is also the custom for the Chinese Dai ethnic group living in Yunnan Province to sit around a table drinking and having dinner together during the festival.