More than just mooncakes: a family guide to Mid-Autumn Festival

Published 21 September 2023 at 09:00

Tickikids Blog Hong Kong > digest > More than just mooncakes: a family guide to Mid-Autumn Festival

It is high time to hang a lantern, eat a family reunion dinner, enjoy a mooncake and peel off a pomelo - Mid-Autumn Festival is coming!
The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Mooncake Festival and the Moon Festival, is widely celebrated in China and some other Asian countries. The Moon Festival is held annually on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese calendar, which corresponds to a day in September or in early October in the Western calendar. Being a part of Chinese culture heritage, the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrates the time of the year when the Moon is so close to the Earth that projects a stunning view. Traditionally during this time, families and friends come together to celebrate, share gifts, and admire the beauty of the full Moon.

Here is a shortlist of kids-friendly Mid-Autumn Festival activities that you can pick up to join the massive Mooncake celebration and make it unforgettable.

Guidepost

Photo Credit: Guidepost

Guidepost, a network of Montessori schools, is dedicated to guiding, empowering, and fostering independence in children from early childhood through preschool and into the primary years. With schools located in Hong Kong and various international locations, we offer comprehensive programs for children and parents, starting from the prenatal stage and continuing through primary education.

Our Montessori approach ensures that children and parents receive holistic support, tailored to their individual needs. By creating a customised learning environment, our educators provide engaging and supportive educational experiences that promote each child's growth and development.

At Guidepost, we believe in celebrating cultural traditions while providing engaging experiences for young children. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, our classrooms come alive with decorations made by the children, traditional Chinese music and dance as well as special craft activities. Children are encouraged to dress up in traditional Chinese clothing or costumes related to the festival, such as the moon goddess or rabbits.

In the lead up to the Mid-Autumn Festival, children share stories about their families and their own unique ways of celebrating special occasions. This not only promotes cultural understanding but also strengthens the bond among classmates.

Contact:

admissions@guidepost.hk

+852 9126 6211

To choose a suitable location click here.

Socials: Facebook, Instagram.

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Woodland

Photo Credit: Woodland

Woodland Pre-Schools, an award-winning Hong Kong international pre-school and kindergarten group, embraces the joy and educational value of celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival with young children. Understanding the critical role of early childhood in holistic development, Woodland is dedicated to nurturing intellectual, emotional, social, and physical growth in children.

By employing a Montessori approach, Woodland ensures that your child receives the best possible start on their developmental journey. The curriculum integrates age-appropriate activities and materials into the daily routine, catering to individual learning styles and needs. Even at a young age, children can engage in activities like lantern-making, where they work with coloured paper, glue, and stickers, stimulating their senses and encouraging creativity. These hands-on experiences establish a connection to the tradition of carrying lanterns during the festival.

Woodland also organises child-friendly mooncake tasting sessions, which serve as an introduction to the significance of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Through discussions about the round shape of mooncakes representing the full moon, children are encouraged to share stories about the festival. Thematic picture books and interactive storytelling methods are employed to entertain and engage young learners at Woodland.

Catering to children aged six months to six years, Woodland offers a tailor-made international curriculum that seamlessly aligns with the English Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). They provide a comprehensive range of English, bilingual, and Mandarin classes to meet the diverse language needs of children in Hong Kong. As a result, Woodland is the top choice for bilingual or English-speaking households in the region.

Contact:

+85225269478;
+85294450363, WhatsApp.

To choose a suitable location click here.

Socials: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube

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Kraft and light up your own lanterns

Lanterns are one of the oldest and spectacular Mid-Autumn traditions adored by kids and adults in Hong Kong! During the Mid-Autumn Festival, you can come across lantern displays in all shapes and colours across the city. It is a perfect time to take inspiration from lantern displays you see outside, ignite your kids’ creativity, and kraft your own lantern together! To release your creative well we suggest going online and check various DIY lantern ideas available: from simple ones made from paper to more complex.

Photo Credit: Pexels

Cook and enjoy a mooncake

No doubt, mooncakes are the signature dessert and the main highlight of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The mooncake is not only delicious food but a profound cultural tradition that symbolizes unity and completeness. Cooking mooncakes can be an ultimate family-bonding activity! While traditional mooncake recipes might be a bit difficult to follow, we suggest using easy children-friendly mooncake recipes to turn mooncake cooking into an exciting project for the whole family!

Photo Credit: Stock Adobe

Peel a pomelo

Mooncakes are not the only festive food. A round-shaped pomelo is another famous symbol of the Mid-Autumn Festival and family unity. Considered as a lucky fruit, it is traditionally offered to the moon goddess together with mooncakes and peanuts. It is also believed that eating pomelos and putting their peel on the head signifies a pray for the kids of the family. Other legends say that wearing a hat made of a pomelo’s rind allows the Moon goddess Chang’e to see the children from the Moon and send them her blessings. Making a hat from a pomelo’s rinds is a perfect activity for toddlers: it is fun, requires little preparation and just a bit of assistance from parents. What is more, pomelos are extremely tasty and packed with vitamins! So whether you keep up the tradition or not, make sure you serve your festive table with a couple of these ripe fruits.

Photo Credit: Stock Adobe

Gaze at the huge full Moon

Every year, three days of the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations are important days for the Chinese community to admire the full Moon. On the first day of the celebration, people welcome the Moon, on the second day of the festival gaze and enjoy its full view, and on the last day, they say the Moon goodbye. From ancient times, the full Moon represents a family reunion in Chinese culture. As moongazing in Hong Kong can be tricky because of the skyscrapers and bright lights, consider going outdoors and leaving urban areas. A preferable place to admire the full Moon and stars should be open and high. A top list of best spots for moon- and stargazing in Hong Kong you can find here.

Share the Moon Festival legends

Mid-Autumn celebration is just the right time for storytelling and loud reading! There are several legends and stories behind Mid-Autumn Festival, but the most well-known story is about a hero named Hou Yi and his wife Chang’e, who floated to the Moon. Besides that, there is a broad spectrum of lovely contemporary books for kids that cover the Moon Festival folklore, customs, and traditions related to it as well as Mid-Autumn fictional stories for kids in modern settings.

Photo Credit: Freepik

And what about you?

How do you celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival? Do you engage your kids in celebrations? Which Moon Festival activities do your kids like the most? Feel free to share your ideas and fond memories in the comment section below.

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