Who
Who's celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival? Actually there are many countries in East Asia have similar festival, and of course each cultures or societies will use their own unique name. I am not going to write all cultural ceremonies here, but I will focus only in Chinese and Korean culture, about the terms, legends and how they celebrate the Moon Festival. As we know, all of these countries descendent are now spread all over the world. If fact, the celebration is not only held in the origin countries but also celebrated in every corner of the world.

The Legends
When I tried to learn more about the Mid-Autumn festival few years ago, I was quite surprise with the result I had.  According to the Chinese legend, there are quite versions about the festival. Well, I can't say, China has tremendous sub-culture even among Chinese culture as general. Another culture that I learn is Korean. The main idea of the festival is identical. The only different is how they celebrate it, but it is not much different.

In ancient Asian mythology, there is a strong relationship between the moon and water. The moon is said to regulate reservoirs and supplies of water. There is a suggestion that the moon produces fertility and freshness in the soil. The moon’s role in bountiful harvests is widely recognized during autumns around the world.

In Chinese celestial cosmology, the moon represents the female principle, or yin. During ancient autumn Moon Festivals, women took center stage because the moon is considered feminine. Only women took part in Moon Festival rituals on the night of the full moon. Altars would be set up in households, and when the full moon appeared, women would make offerings of incense, candles, fruit, flowers, and moon cakes. As the legend continues, we can see now that there are many dances performed by women to celebrate the festival.

The picture to the left is one of the Korean traditional dance which called Ganggangsulrai.

The Legend of Chang E
Chang E was a beautiful young girl working in the Jade Emperor's palace in heaven, where immortals, good people and fairies lived. One day, she accidentally broke a precious porcelain jar. Angered, the Jade Emperor banished her to live on earth, where ordinary people lived. She could return to the Heaven, if she contributed a valuable service on earth. Chang E was transformed into a member of a poor farming family. When she was 18, a young hunter named Hou Yi from another village spotted her, now a beautiful young woman. They became friends.

One day, a strange phenomenon occurred -- 10 suns arose in the sky instead one one, blazing the earth. Hou Yi, an expert archer, stepped forward to try to save the earth. He successfully shot down nine of the suns, becoming an instant hero. He eventually became king and married Chang E.

But Hou Yi grew to become a despot. He sought immortality by ordering an elixir be created to prolong his life. The elixir in the form of a single pill was almost ready when Chang E came upon it. She either accidentally or purposely swallowed the pill. This angered King Hou Yi, who went after his wife. Trying to flee, she jumped out the window of a chamber at the top of palace -- and, instead of falling, she floated into the sky toward the moon.

The Man - Wu Kang
Wu Kang was a shiftless fellow who changed apprenticeships all the time. One day he decided that he wanted to be an immortal. Wu Kang then went to live in the mountains where he importuned an immortal to teach him. First the immortal taught him about the herbs used to cure sickness, but after three days his characteristic restlessness returned and he asked the immortal to teach him something else. So the immortal to teach him chess, but after a short while Wu Kang's enthusiasm again waned. Then Wu Kang was given the books of immortality to study. Of course, Wu Kang became bored within a few days, and asked if they could travel to some new and exciting place. Angered with Wu Kang's impatience, the master banished Wu Kang to the Moon Palace telling him that he must cut down a huge cassia tree before he could return to earth. Though Wu Kang chopped day and night, the magical tree restored itself with each blow, and thus he is up there chopping still.

The Moon Cake
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.

Celebration

Chinese
Chinese families celebrate the end of the harvest season with a big feast, which always include moon cakes as a symbol of the moon festival. Friends and relatives also send moon cakes to each other as a way of giving thanks.

Chinese legends say that the moon is at its brightest and roundest on this day. Under this bright autumn moon, friendships are made and renewed. It is perfect for a romantic rendezvous. For many years, Chinese poets write about long lost lovers finding their way to each other on this special night.

The Moon Festival is often called the Women's Festival. The moon symbolizes beauty and elegance. While Westerners and other countries worship the sun (yang or male) for its power, people in the Far East admire the moon. The moon is the 'yin' or female principle and it is a trusted friend.

In fact, many ancient Harvest Moon folktales are about a moon maiden. On the 15th night of the 8th lunar moon, little children on earth can see a lady on the moon. On this magical occasion, children who make wishes to the Lady on the Moon (known as Chang E) will find their dreams come true. 

Korean
The celebration starts on the night before the mid-autumn festival (Chusok) and ends on the day after the holiday. Thus, many Korean families take three days off from work to get together with family and friends. 

The celebration starts with a family get-together at which rice cakes called "Songphyun" are served. These special rice cakes are made of rice, beans, sesame seeds, and chestnuts.  Then the family pays respect to ancestors by visiting their tombs and offering them rice and fruits.  In the evening, children wear their favorite traditional Korean clothing (hanbok) and dance under the bright moon in a large circle. They play games and sing songs. Like the other countries' Thanksgiving, Chusok is the time to celebrate the family and give thanks for their blessings.