Savour a festival that offers a taste of home for N.L.'s Chinese community

The Chinese community in Newfoundland and Labradorcelebratedthe Mid-Autumn Festivalat home this year, witha St. John's rendition of the famous "moon festival" taking place on Saturday.

In the Chinese lunar calendar, the festival falls on the 15th day of the eight month, ormid-September to early October for those who follow the Gregorian calendar.

Similar to Thanksgiving, Francis Tam, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Chinese Association, said the festival is about togetherness.

"We just have that family moment that sometimes [gets]neglected, and that's very important in our culture," Tam said. "It's the welcome in a good harvest for the fall as well."

During the Mid-Autumn Festival, families gather to honour the moon and tell stories of the moon goddess, Chang'e, while wishing and praying for good luck.

There are lantern festivals, feasts, family gatherings, and mooncakesa round Chinese stuffed pastry with intricate designs on the top.

"Every year we honour [Chang'e] by celebrating the moon festival," Tam said.

WATCH | The moon is at the centre of this Chinese celebration:

Mid-Autumn Festival: The Chinese community celebrates the moon, being together and welcoming others

3 days ago

Duration 2:11

Its a celebration that is meant to bring people together while celebrating the moon goddess, Change. Francis Tam, the president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Chinese Association, said its a chance for people who are far away from their families to be part of a community, and also encourage the public to learn about the event.

The association extended invitationsto Saturday's festival to those outside the Chinese community. Tam said the association wants to engage with new families.

"We want to be as public as we can," he said. "Since COVID, right, they didn't know a lot of people in the community. This is a way for them to make friends and connections,their kids to make some friends."

For international students at Memorial University, Saturday's event made them feel a little less homesick.

Lu Qiao is from Shanghai. She hasn't been home in three years.

"I feel lonely because I don't know how to celebrate. Also, my family is not here as well," Lu said. "So we have the festival right now here, and I feel like it's so appreciated because we can celebrate together."

Yuchen Qiu is from Beijing. If he was home for the festival, he says his family would visit relatives the night before.

"We will have a big feast and then we will be watching the full moon and drink tea and some nuts," Yuchensaid. "We will just chat with each other, talking about what happens this year."

Mooncakes are a highlight of the holiday. At Saturday's event, the do-it-yourself mooncake station and taste-testing area were fan favourites.

"I really like the mooncake. I like to eat mooncake with and drink with tea and with my friends and families. That's enjoyable," Zhibing Yang told CBC News.

Claire Qisaid her favourite flavours are egg yolk and lotus, but there are other options in different parts of China.

"North China will have like this meat flavor, but in south China, some of them will have the sweet ones," shesaid.

But mooncakes also have a deeper meaning. Qisaid often families will split mooncakes to represent togetherness. It's also common to make wishes as you eat them.

On the 15th day of the eighth month, Zhibingsaid he felt a sense of home when he looked up at the moon and togetherness at Saturday's event.

"Even though we are far from home, we can all look at the same moon at the same time," he said, "sowe also can share our thoughts and give our best wishes to my families and friends."

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