The China Teaching Web

“Drink like a fish” were the only English words that our marketing director seemed to know as he toasted the foreign teachers’ table at our Mid-Autumn Holiday dinner last night. Some of the foreign teachers took him up on the suggestion but others found it more fun to simply sit back and watch the festivities taking place. After all, if you get a bunch of Chinese people together on a holiday, you never know what might happen. Last night, men danced with each other in charades, people did cartwheels  as they came up to accept awards, and our hosts gave out prizes to staff who could answer trivia questions. Later, every table got up and toasted every other table which made for a very rowdy and fun atmosphere.

For many in the younger generation, the Mid-Autumn Holiday is a day to eat, drink and be merry, but for the older generation, the day holds much more significance. Dating back to more than 3000 years ago, the Mid-Autumn Day Festival not only marks the end of the harvest season for millions of farmers throughout Asia but it also marks a special period of time when “the moon’s orbit is at its lowest angle to the horizon, making the moon appear brighter and larger than any other time of the year“  (c-c-c.org). The moon, which is a symbol of peace and prosperity in Asian culture, has been a guiding and comforting light for the Chinese people during the good times and the bad times in China’s turbulent history. During the particularly difficult periods of starvation and oppression, the moon’s cycle was often the only constant in people’s lives as they struggled to survive. While the moon shines on a much more prosperous China these days, many people here,especially the older generation, have a special fondness for the earth’s only natural satellite.

Millions of people throughout China and Asia will gaze up at the moon on Sunday night just as their ancestors have for thousands of years. The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time to enjoy family and friends while at the same time appreciating the history of China and Asia and hoping for an even brighter future.