Moon Festival Ritual & Ceremony

Together with storytelling, moon cakes, lanterns, music, and family reunions, ritual and ceremony play an important role in the Moon Festival

Just as the Moon Festival marks the day when the moon is perfectly round and at its most beautiful, so the Moon Festival also celebrates the feminine force which, after the autumn equinox, dominates the masculine force. This day also pays tribute to Chang-O, the legendary moon goddess who, after swallowing the elixir of life, flew up to the moon.

The traditional ceremony conducted at the Moon Festival continues to be performed by some women in rural China and occurs in the evening after the moon rises.

An altar is arranged with various ritually significant items. Often, a picture of the jade palace where Chang-O resides, or a picture or small clay figurine of the jade rabbit are used.

In addition, offerings of fruit such as apples, pomegranates, grapes, peaches, and melons are placed on the altar. Thirteen moon cakes, symbolizing the number of months in a full lunar year, are brought out and placed on the altar, After lighting incense and candles, the women in the family approach the altar, say a short prayer, and bow.

Wine cups are filled for the men, libations of tea poured for women and children, and spirit money set on fire. The rest of the evening is spent feasting on moon cakes and fruit, gazing up at the moon, and listening to music or recounting popular stories and legends.

Tonight in Los Angeles, the anniversary of the 70Th year of the Moon Festival was celebrated. I cannot begin to tell you how a part of we felt, how much we enjoyed ourselves and how grateful we are to be so blessed with our little China doll - Rachel Qiu Liwu Burnett. Rachel's name translates to Rachel Autumn Blessing Burnett. How appropriate.........and she absolutely LOVES the moon!
How cool and special is that?!!

Love,

Mommy