Friday, October 2, 2009
The Confucius Institute at Group T celebrated the Moon Festival and the 60th birthday of the People's Republic of China on October 2. The institute treated staff and students to moon cakes, Chinese snacks, and Tsingtao beer.
Together with the Spring Festival, the Moon Festival makes up the most important holiday in China and its neighboring countries. Traditionally, moon cakes are eaten that day. These go back to the Yuan Dynasty and the Mongolian rulers of that era. It was impossible for rebels to rise against them, because it was forbidden in those days to gather as a group.
The Mongolians didn't eat moon cakes, so the rebel leader decided to hide a message in one of these cakes: 'Death to the Mongolians on the 15th day of the 8th month'. Thus was done accordingly and as of then the Moon Festival is celebrated with moon cakes.
Moon cakes come in several varieties, with different crusts and fillings: lotus seeds, nuts, green tea, red beans, black sesam... Compared to traditional Western pastries, a moon cake is quite heavy to digest, which is why it is served in small pieces.
