Moonfest – A Mid-Autumn Celebration is an annual traditional Chinese arts festival held in celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Now in its 13th edition, Moonfest presents the opportunity for families and friends, young and old to be exposed to and rediscover the intrinsic beauty of traditional Chinese arts.
The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival is a time of festive joy and harmony when the streets are lined with brightly coloured lanterns and shops display delicious mooncakes.
The festival is celebrated across the world by the Chinese, and their large and far-flung diaspora. While the celebrations differ in the various countries, the spirit remains the same. Families and friends gather to rejoice and give thanks for harmony and the fullness of life under a beautiful full moon.
- Significance and Origins
The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month and has its origins as a harvest festival. Beyond the crop fields, there are many myths and legends that speak of the origins of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The two most famous stories are that of Chang E and the Moon, and The Mooncake Uprising.
Chang E was married to the famous archer, Houyi, who possessed a powerful elixir of immortality given to him by the Queen Mother of the West as a reward for his bravery. One day, one of Houyi’s students, the devious Peng Meng, snuck into his home to steal the elixir. To prevent the elixir from falling into his hands, Chang E drank the elixir and floated up to the moon. She then became known as the Moon Goddess and people began to pray to her for good fortune and peace.
It is said that the custom of eating mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival arises from the events of The Mooncake Uprising. Legend has it that the Yuan Dynasty was a time of great suffering for the people of China. Zhu Yuanzhang, who later became the first Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, led an uprising to overthrow the oppressive Yuan Dynasty. The success of the uprising owed much to the secret messages hidden in mooncakes, which allowed the insurgents to communicate with each other without being found out. Zhu Yuanzhang then celebrated the successful coup that took place on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month by distributing mooncakes to the people.
- Celebrating the Festival in Singapore
The Mid-Autumn Festival falls during the autumn equinox when the moon is at its brightest and roundest. Families gather to admire this beautiful sight, savour mooncakes and to celebrate their harmonious reunion during this time.
Under the glow of the moon, families take walks carrying colourful lanterns, thus the moniker, Lantern Festival. Part of the festive fun also involves the solving of riddles written on slips attached to lanterns. Mooncakes are generally round in shape which symbolises unity and harmony. Hence, sharing the mooncakes is an expression of love for your family and hope for a happy life. Yams, pomelos and water caltrops—a type of water chestnut—are also enjoyed during the Mid-Autumn Festival as they are symbols of good fortune and unity. In Singapore, boxes of mooncakes are often exchanged as gifts among family and friends. Hence, the festival has many other colloquial names such as, Mooncake Festival and Festival of Reunion.
Running from 29 September till 4 October, the day of Mid-Autumn Festival, warmly welcomes you to celebrate a meaningful Mid-Autumn at Esplanade.
This year’s highlights include:
- Promotion of Judge Xu
- Virtuosos & Classics – A Chamber Concert
- Peking Opera Classic Excerpts
- Soulful Steps – An Ethnic Dance & Music Recital
- The Magic Paintbrush
- Parent-Child Workshop: DIY Dough Figurine
- Lantern-Making Workshop
- Parent-Child Workshop: DIY Snowskin Mooncake
- Percussion and Pipa Masterclasses
- Craft Activity: MASKquerade
- Storytelling: Grandmother’s Tales
- Craft Workshop: Pompom Jade Rabbit
- Activity: Water Calligraphy
- Lantern Walkabout
- Crosstalk Show
- Activity: Wing Chun
- Mid-Autumn Serenades
- Dancing in the Moonlight
- Traditional Extravaganza
- Moonlit Melodies
- Festive Rhythms
- Martial Arts Soundtracks
- Beneath the Full Moon with Kelvin Tan
- “Grandfather” Storytelling
- Meet the Mascots
Credit: image of Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay
Age
6+
Telephone number
+65 6828 8377
Links
Address
Singapore1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981
How to get there?
By Bus:
Bus Stop No. 02061 (The Esplanade)
Buses stop outside Esplanade Mall entrance along Raffles Avenue. Bus service numbers 36, 56, 70M, 75, 77, 97, 97e, 106, 111, 133, 162M, 171, 195, 531, 700A, 857, 960, 961, 1N, 2N, 3N, 4N, 5N, 6N, NR1, NR2, NR5, NR6, NR7, NR8
Bus Stop No. 02111 (Esplanade Bridge)
Buses stop along Esplanade Drive. Bus service numbers 10, 57, 70, 128, 162, 196, 531, 652, 656, 660, 700, 850E, 868, 951E, 971E
By MRT:
City Hall MRT (North-South (red) or East-West (green) line)
Esplanade MRT (Circle Line)
By Taxi:
The taxi stand is located at the entrance to Esplanade Mall along Raffles Avenue.