As the season of festivities is upon us, the fall harvest is celebrated by many traditions and cultures around the world. “The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the four most important festivals for Han Chinese,” says Madeleine Y. Dong, chair of the Chinese studies program at the University of Washington. The other three major holidays are the Lunar New Year (also known as the Spring Festival), the Qingming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Festival) and the Dragon Boat Festival.
“Many moons ago [over 3,000 years ago], ancient Chinese emperors from the Shang and Zhou dynasties began the practice of worshiping the moon to usher in a season of bountiful harvests,” explains Lauren Nechamkin, director of education at the Museum of Chinese in America. “… but it wasn’t until the Song Dynasty that the festival became an official fixture of the year. It has been a public holiday in China since 2008.”
When is the Mid-Autumn Festival?
The Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. In 2023, the festival falls on September 29.
What is Mid-Autumn Festival?
“Traditionally, Mid-Autumn Festival ceremonies were held to give thanks for the season’s abundance and worship the moon goddess Chang’e, her friendly companion on the moon, the Jade Rabbit and the valiant archer Hou Yi,” adds Nechamkin. “Today, families spend the festival admiring the moon when it appears to be at its biggest and brightest — hanging lanterns, picnicking on tea, mooncakes and fruit and enjoying each other’s company.”
Ahead are some meaningful and fun activities to help prepare for and celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival traditions with kids.
1. Read books about the Moon Festival
The myth and traditions behind this festival are colorful and fascinating. Especially if you and your kids are new to the holiday, it might be a good idea to read up about it for context. Here are some options:
- “Moon Festival Wishes” by Jillian Lin (ages 2-6).
- “Thanking the Moon” by Grace Lin (ages 3-7).
- “Our Moon Festival” by Yobe Qiu (ages 3-8).
- “The Moon Lady” by Amy Tan (ages 6-9).
2. Watch the movie “Over the Moon”
This 2020 Netflix animated feature about a young Chinese girl named Fei-Fei who builds a rocket ship to the moon was nominated for an Oscar. The all-Asian American voice cast and artful animation really bring the holiday and its meaning to life.
“We’ve decided that it will be a tradition for us to watch ‘Over the Moon’ as part of our Mid-Autumn Festival celebration each year,” says Sonia Leung, a mom of two in greater-Detroit.
3. Find fun beyond the movie
Netflix has made this beautiful official “Over the Moon” coloring book available for free. If your kids still can’t get enough of this colorful, imaginative universe, there is a picture book and a novelization, as well as dolls of Fei-Fei and Chang’e the Moon Goddess. After all, representation matters and having positive Asian characters in film, books and toys is formative for kids.
4. Seek out local Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations
Many universities, Chinese language schools and community organizations will often hold local Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations. The Museum of Chinese in America will be holding a family festival on September 30, 2023, and on September 14, at NextFab in North Philadelphia, artist-in-residence Colette Fu will be sharing how to make magic picture cards while attendees can enjoy mooncakes and sip on bubble tea. All activities are free to the public.
5. Taste mooncakes
Mooncakes are the most iconic Mid-autumn festival celebration food. These baked pastries are filled with sweet red bean, lotus seed paste, mixed nuts and more. Most Asian grocery stores (and sometimes even Costco) will be stocking them in intricate gift boxes through the season, but they can also be ordered online. Want to try your hand at making these intricate treats with kids? I like this easier mooncake recipe or this no-bake, nontraditional mooncake recipe.
6. Enjoy other round foods
“For many, the full harvest moon symbolizes family reunion,” says Nechamkin, “so you’ll often see round foods like pomelos, apples, watermelon, lotus roots and taro on people’s picnic blankets.”
Leung enjoys incorporating nontraditional round foods for this holiday as well. “At our Mid-Autumn Festival party, we had pizza, which is a crowd-pleaser, and also in the same round shape as the full moon.”
7. Moon gaze with tea, mooncakes and other Chinese pastries
A must-do activity during the Mid-Autumn Festival is gazing at the full moon. Ask the kids if they can see the shadows of Chang’e and the Jade Rabbit in the celestial body as you retell the mythical story.
8. Craft DIY lanterns
Another iconic symbol of the moon festival are paper lanterns. The round shape also symbolizes reunion and adds to the festive atmosphere. This video contains a tutorial for two ways to make this fun kids craft that have a little more flair than this simpler kind.
9. Stump each other with lantern riddles
Once you have your lanterns, homemade or purchased, attach fun riddles on slips of paper to them to take part in this quirky tradition. Here are some brain teasers to get you started, but one wholesome example from chinaculture.org: “What building has the most stories? – A library!”
10. Have a Chinese feast
Many holiday celebrations center around loved ones sharing a plentiful meal — the Mid-Autumn Festival is no exception. In addition to mooncake and other round foods mentioned above, hairy crab – a seasonal specialty – and duck are both popular dishes during this Thanksgiving-like holiday feast. Put on a feast by choosing Mid-Autumn Festival recipes like these to cook as a family or support a local Chinese restaurant near you.
11. Order a curated Mid-Autumn Festival kids activities box
If you’re short on time this month but still want your family to enjoy the moon festival, this highly reviewed Mid-Autumn Festival Box from Days United comes well stocked. This year, it features the story of the Chang’e, the moon goddess, in the form of a scroll along with a Moon Goddess lantern – both designed for kids to decorate and color — small mooncake molds with an easy recipe and gifting box, a holiday guide booklet filled with facts and more.
Where to buy: Mid-Autumn Festival Box ($53, Days United)
12. Throw a Moon Festival party!
Feeling ambitious or especially festive? Go all out and throw a Mid-Autumn Festival backyard party with some or all of the above activities! The more the merrier, especially when lanterns are involved. Make it a potluck feast, and the meal will come together so much easier.
