Lesson 11 - 中秋节快乐。

It's that time of year again.... we're nearing the 15th day of the 8th lunar month (this year the full moon falls on Sept. 26th). This day in China is a popular holiday called: Mid-Autumn's Festival. It is a time of reunion and a night of moon gazing and munching on moon cakes. In Chinese we say:

中秋节快乐！ zhong1 qiu1 jie2 kuai4 le4.
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

There is a famous legend of Chang e. The Earth had 10 suns in ancient times and Chang e's husband was a famous archer who shot down 9 in one shot, thus saving the people from famine. A goddess gave him an elixir, but Chang e drank it when he was out one day. She began to float up to the moon with only her rabbit for company. To this day the full moon, Chang e and rabbits are all associated in Chinese folklore.

Happy Festival! Eat lots of moon cakes.