The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Mooncake festival marks the end of the autumn harvest, which was traditionally a time to give thanks to the Gods. It is celebrated by Chinese & Vietnamese people in Singapore & other Southeast Asian countries. The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month when the moon is at its brightest. In 2019, the Mid-Autumn Festival will be observed on 13th September. The full moon is known as the symbol of reunion, that’s why the Mid-Autumn festival is also known as the Reunion Festival. The entire month of the festival is considered a popular time for family gatherings. People who live away from their family return to their homes for the festival celebrations.
Mooncakes and Lanterns are the traditional symbols of the Mid-Autumn festival. In Singapore, the shopkeepers start selling mooncakes and lanterns a month before the festival. Mooncakes are the rich pastries filled with sweet-bean or lotus-seed paste. Shaped like the full moon, mooncakes symbolize reunion. They are popular
Mid-Autumn festival gifts people exchange and relish with their friends and relatives. There is a famous custom of making offerings of mooncake and pomelo to the moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival and watching the moon with family members. On the night of the festival, people decorate their houses with lanterns, relish feast, and participate in dance parties with their friends and relatives. This festival is traditionally thought to be auspicious for weddings, as people believed that the moon goddess extends blessings to newlywed couples.
Read further to know the things you can do in Singapore during the Mid-Autumn festival.
Relish Delicious Mooncakes
The palm-sized mooncakes made of pastry or a layer of glutinous rice, mooncakes are undoubtedly one of the main attractions of the Mid-Autumn festival. They are available in sweet, savory, and salted varieties. You can easily find
mooncakes at bakeries or supermarkets in Singapore and indulge in their heavenly flavour along with your loved ones.
Paint Paper Lanterns
Paper lanterns are another important part of the Mid-Autumn festival that people hang in front of their houses. They are known to bring luck, wealth, and happiness to the family. These lanterns come in a variety of shapes and colors. You can try and make your own paper lantern that you can hang in your home for decoration. You can refer the YouTube videos to learn the process of making paper lanterns at home.
Enjoy Folk Performances in Chinese Communities
Various activities are held on the Mid-Autumn festival in Chinese communities, such as folk dance performances, Chinese operas, puppet shows, etc. All these performances are held on the festival night that you can enjoy along with your friends and family. The dragon and lion dance performance in Chinatown makes the festival celebrations even more colorful and interesting.
Go for a Stroll in Chinese Garden
When Mid-Autumn festival approaches, the Chinese Garden in west Singapore is decorated with lots of lanterns. You can take your own lanterns to stroll in the lantern fair with your friends and family members. You can also participate in fun activities like making lanterns and guessing lantern riddles.
Join Moonfest at Esplanade
Moonfest is an annual traditional Chinese arts festival held in the
celebration of the Mid-Autumn festival. This year, Moonfest will be held from 13th to 15th September that includes both free and ticketed performances and activities. You can enjoy art and craft shows, puppetry performances, street opera performances, and even a Chinese opera workshop at Moonfest.
Participate in these amazing activities to experience the best of the Mid-Autumn Festival in Singapore.
