Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival Like a Pro

Another Chinese celebration is upon us! Set for the 15th day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar, the Mid-Autumn Festival is about celebrating and admiring the fullest moon of the year. Think of it as the Chinese version of Thanksgiving — with both festivals focused on the joy of harvest and reunion.

If you’re wondering what to do during Mid-Autumn Festival, the answer is simple — eat! How else would you celebrate the harvest season without indulging yourselves in a variety of delicious treats? Traditional snacks may vary depending on different areas of China, but the most popular choices have always been mooncakes.

While we’re glad to see more local bakeries and businesses in Vancouver jump on the trend, international brands like Lady M are also stepping in and bringing the game to the next level by debuting exquisitely designed gift boxes, exclusively for Mid-Autumn.

Other than mooncakes, steamed crabs are also a local favourite, especially for those living in coastal cities. In the classic Chinese novel Dream of the Red Chamber, there are very detailed descriptions on how to enjoy steamed crabs in a proper and refined way (using at least eight tools!).

When the feast comes to an end, admiring the moon together with loved ones is how people like to spend the rest of the night. After all, it wouldn’t be a perfect festival if there wasn’t a perfect moon!

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How do Chinese People Really Celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival?

We’ve all heard of the Dragon Boat Festival, and most likely have participated in its festivities every year. But what’s the reasoning behind the celebrations?

It didn’t actually start off as something to celebrate. The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival first originated as a tradition to mourn over the loss of Qu Yuan, who was one of the most prominent poets in Ancient China’s history.

Also known as the Duan Wu Festival (端午节), the Dragon Boat Festival has a few different origin stories. The most well-known version is that the tradition started as a tribute to the poet and minister Qu Yuan, who committed suicide during the Warring States period. He jumped into the Mi Luo River because he failed in his advising role to the Emperor during an invasion, and subsequently lost the battle.

It’s believed that in order to distract the fish from damaging the patriotic poet’s body, people came up with the idea of throwing wrapped rice balls into the river to keep the creatures away. It’s also told that people began paddling down the river to look for his body, which evolved to what is now considered to be the origin of dragon boat races

So what exactly do Chinese people like to do to celebrate Dragon Boat Festival?

1. Enjoy Rice Dumplings

Because of the name “Dragon Boat”, people don’t associate the day with food as much. However, there’s ALWAYS food involved when it comes to Chinese holidays and celebrations.

One of the most iconic delicacies enjoyed during the Festival is Zong Zi (rice dumpling), which is sticky rice balls wrapped in reed leaves. The rice balls usually contain different types of stuffing depending on the region’s tradition; this includes stewed pork belly and marinated duck eggs to sweet treats like dates and red bean paste. There are hundreds of options to choose from. Social media influencers on Weibo even host contests to see whether people prefer “savory or sweet”.

2. Race Dragon Boats

Well, this is a given. Dragon Boat races have become a universally celebrated summer event across continents, and it’s a great opportunity for communities to connect and share stories. You don’t need to be extremely athletic or an expert in Chinese culture to participate — the races purely revolve around the spirit of sportsmanship and competition.

3. Hang Herbs

With the Dragon Boat Festival taking place at the beginning of summer, the weather is more humid and the households are prone to mold and bacteria. That’s why people believe that hanging up herbs in their homes would help clean the air and drive away insects. Common herbs include mugwort brushes (which smell very similar to sage) or calamus (some are a source of rattan and canes).

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