TheMoonFestival,alwayscelebratedonAugust15ofthelunarcalendar,isoneofthemosttraditionalofChineseholiday.Itisseveralhundredyearsoldandmanybeautifultalesaboutithavebeenhandeddownfromgenerationtogeneration.
OnthisdayweeataspecialkindofpastrycalledMoonCake--itrepresentsthemoonandalsomeansfamilyreunion.IthaslongbeenapracticeinourfamilytogettogetherforasmallmoonlightpartyattheNewParkontheeveningofAugust15.Cousinsandsomefriendssometimesjoinus.Sittingorlyingonthesoftgrass,someofuschathappilyandotherslistentomusic.Andamidstshoutsandlaughterofchildrenchasingaroundexcitedly,Isitquietlyatacornerwatchingthebright,beautifulmoon.
InChina,Mid-autumnDayisconsideredtobeasymboloffamilyreunion.Onthisday,allthefamilymembersgathertogetherathometocelebratethisspecialoccasion.Lastyear,IcouldnotcelebratethefestivalwithmyfamilybecauseIwasinuniversity.However,thisspecialdayleftadeepimpressiononme.
Istillremembertheatmosphereofthatevening.Allthestudentswhocouldnotgobackhomeassembledinourclassroom,havingapartytocelebratethistraditionalfestival.Wetriedourbesttoshowourownenthusiasm.Asanethnicminority,Iperformedapeacockdance,whichreceivedwarmapplause.Afterthetwo-hourparty,wewentouttotheplaygroundandsattogethertoappreciatethemoonbecauseitisatraditiononMid-autumnDay.Weatemooncakes,playedcards,andlistenedtoromanticpoemsrecitedbyoneofourclassmates.Inthatharmoniousatmosphere,nobodyfeltlonelyorhomesickeventhoughwewerefarawayfromourhomes.
Thankstoourclassmates,IexperiencedsuchacolorfulandinterestingMid-autumnDayatmyuniversity.Thus,IlearnedtovalueallthefestivalsIspentduringmyuniversitylife.
IlikedtheAutumnFestivalverymuchwhenIwasasmallgirl,becauseIwaswithmyfamilythen.OntheeveningofAugust15ofthelunarcalendar,whenthemoonwasbrightest,wealwayssattogetheroutsideinouryardtoeatmooncakes--eatenonlyonthisoccasion--andenjoythebeautifulmoonlight.MotherwouldthentellmethestoryofthemoonfairyChang-o,wholivedinapalaceonthemoon,withajaderabbitforcompanion.
IalwaysimaginedthatIwasthemoonfairywheneverIheardthestory.WhenIgrewolder,however,Iwascompelledtoleavehomeforeducationinthecity.AndnowIamlivingaloneawayfromhome.TheAugustmoononlyservestoremindmeofthelosthappydaysIhadwithmyfamilyinthecountry.
