chinese mid autumn festival philadelphia

CHINESE MID AUTUMN FESTIVAL PHILADELPHIA FULL

Hence, among the best-preserved customs of the festival are watching the full moon and tasting the mooncake, both with family and friends. The Chinese believe that the round shape of the moon and the mooncake embody reunion and harmony. The list of such events could go on and on, and perhaps they all speak to the spell of the festival and the broader Chinese culture. The one in Chinatown offers cultural demonstrations, local bands and a peek at the full moon through a telescope, while the other in Valley Boulevard features a night market of multi-cultural Asian street food and drinks, as well as family-friendly games and entertainment. The city's mayor London Breed, who joined the crowed with a group of officials and community chiefs, said, 'The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time to celebrate our community, our family and coming together.'Ĭitizens and tourists in Los Angeles might have to choose between two moon festivals on Saturday. In San Francisco, its historic Chinatown had a two-day celebration last weekend with plenty of food, music, dragon dances and shows featuring the moon goddess Chang'e. The event organizers said that apart from showcasing traditional Chinese culture to Americans, it also served as a platform for exchanges among different cultures.

Several bakers had spent four days together preparing this gigantic gift.Īnother event, hosted by the Chinese students and scholars' associations of DePaul University and University of Illinois, will be ready to entertain mostly young people with music, dance and magic shows this Saturday night on the 99th floor of the Willis Tower.Įarlier on Thursday, the South Coast Plaza in Southern California hosted its celebrations for the third year and charmed visitors with colorful lanterns, clay sculptures and dough figurines. During the event a 363-kg, 2.67-meter-in-diameter mooncake was cut into slices and handed out to hundreds of the elders in the community.

Last Saturday in Chicago, at the Chinatown Square Plaza, a Mid-Autumn carnival featuring lion dances, Kung Fu shows and ethnic music cheered up locals and tourists. Streets in Chinatowns were closed, cruise ships were rented, and top floors of landmark buildings were reserved for get-togethers. In New York and elsewhere, Moon-Festival-themed carnivals, galas and markets started from last weekend, and more have been scheduled for this weekend. Willinger himself admitted that he hadn't heard of it until he learned about it on the job, but then he became a big fan, or in his own words, 'What's not to like about food and joy?' The festival used to be celebrated mainly in Asian countries, but it has now gained growing popularity across the oceans. 'Such an opportunity to connect around culture is a very worthwhile endeavor,' said Jeremy Willinger, director of marketing at the China Institute, a non-profit organization promoting U.S.-China understandings. In the United States, a variety of Mid-Autumn festivities have not only eased the homesickness of the Chinese communities, but also won the hearts of many Americans at a time of tensions, as they joined the 'moon party' to honor its traditions. Often known as the Moon Festival and second in importance only to the Chinese New Year, it is all about family reunion and relaxation. 'It was our stores that recognized the importance of expanding cultural events, for the Chinese communities and also for the local and other communities that might want to know more about China,' he added.įor thousands of years, the Mid-Autumn Festival has been celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, when the moon is believed to be at its roundest and brightest.

But from now on, the Mid-Autumn Festival will be a new tradition,' said Matthew Bauer, president of the Madison Avenue business improvement district. 'Chinese New Year celebrations have long been a staple here. It is the first time that this premier luxury district has offered Chinese cultural experiences marking the Mid-Autumn Festival, which fell on Friday this year. Rest assured that I have brought you both authentic and exotic mooncakes like the melon flavor,' said Felix Ngo, Barry's shop assistant who was born in Hong Kong and would usually save the day for his family only. 'Can't believe I am celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival with colleagues and customers this year. 14 (Xinhua) - If you happen to shop on Madison Avenue in the Upper East Side of Manhattan this weekend, you may expect personalized calligraphy on shoes at Alexandre Birman, Chinese brush painting at Jimmy Choo and a taste of mooncakes at Barry.

Chinese mid autumn festival philadelphia