In Asia, people like KT Lu are already celebrating the Moon Festival today. The Chinese Moon Festival, or Mid-Autumn Festival, takes places the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. For most Chinese people, the Moon Festival is synonymous with moon cakes. There are a number of stories about the history of the moon cake.
Here’s one version: “During the Yuan dynasty (A.D.1280-1368) China was ruled by the Mongolian people. Leaders from the preceding Sung dynasty (A.D.960-1280) were unhappy at submitting to foreign rule, and set how to coordinate the rebellion without it being discovered. The leaders of the rebellion, knowing that the Moon Festival was drawing near, ordered the making of special cakes. Backed into each moon cake was a message with the outline of the attack. On the night of the Moon Festival, the rebels successfully attacked and overthrew the government. What followed was the establishment of the Ming dynasty (A.D. 1368-1644). Today, moon cakes are eaten to commemorate this legend.”
