The Mid-Autumn Festival is more popularly known as the Moon Festival. While there are a ton of different stories that debate the significance of the Moon Festival, they usually revolve around Chang E, a woman who flew to the moon and can still be seen when the moon is full in mid-autumn. Oh, and a giant bunny keeps her company up there. The Moon Festival is similar to our Thanksgiving. It's a time to get together with family, drink some Tsingtao, and eat moon cakes (what else?!). For those of you not familiar with moon cakes, allow me to bring you up to date.
First off, as I know we have many readers from the South, moon cakes are not to be confused with Moon Pies, the delicious marshmallow treat (if only we were so lucky). Around or on the Moon Festival,
moon cakes are customarily given to coworkers, friends, and loved ones. We were surprised when Mr. Li (our caretaker) presented us with a tin of moon cakes. Viewing the outside of a moon cake for the first time will likely make your mouth salivate; they look like quite a treat. However, biting into one will quickly reverse that bodily instinct. Moon cakes are often stuffed with quail eggs, red bean paste, dried fruits, ham, crushed nuts - you name it. Furthermore, most of these wonderful fillings are often combined (picture the fruit cake from Hell)! I don't want to make it sound too bad because the Chinese do love their moon cakes, and it is a special holiday for them to be with family. But, let me say that I don't think moon cakes will be making their way to the states soon (although, Haagen-Das and Dairy Queen - yes, there are DQ's here - are now making moon cakes).
moon cakes are customarily given to coworkers, friends, and loved ones. We were surprised when Mr. Li (our caretaker) presented us with a tin of moon cakes. Viewing the outside of a moon cake for the first time will likely make your mouth salivate; they look like quite a treat. However, biting into one will quickly reverse that bodily instinct. Moon cakes are often stuffed with quail eggs, red bean paste, dried fruits, ham, crushed nuts - you name it. Furthermore, most of these wonderful fillings are often combined (picture the fruit cake from Hell)! I don't want to make it sound too bad because the Chinese do love their moon cakes, and it is a special holiday for them to be with family. But, let me say that I don't think moon cakes will be making their way to the states soon (although, Haagen-Das and Dairy Queen - yes, there are DQ's here - are now making moon cakes).
Save your R.C. Cola for the real thing
Moon Festival was complete when Jimbo (Darbie's father) arrived later in the week with real delicacies (granola bars, dvds, lint rollers, books, etc); we were very thankful. After much hustle and bustle, we managed to get 3 tickets via CRH (China Rail-Highspeed) to Beijing. These adventures, of which there were many, will follow soon! Here's a sneak peek though:
We had to get this picture out as soon as possible
Stay Tuned!
DB & KM
2 comments:
So that's the infamous Jimbo, eh? Oh my! Looks like you guys had fun :)
so, i almost threw up in my mouth a little bit when i read the moon cake description. and that picture of jimbo is priceless! i hope to see a classy black and white version of it on the wall at pizza grocery and/or jb outdoors in the near future!
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