Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!
It is that time of year again when we give thanks and celebrate the plentiful harvest during this past season. In particular, today is a special day for most Chinese households as we take the time to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, or sometimes called the Moon Festival. In other East Asian cultures, similar celebrations are referred to with a different name, such as Chuseok in Korea or Tsukimi (moon viewing) in Japan. You could say that the Mid-Autumn Festival is the Chinese version of Thanksgiving!
The date of when Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated differs every year and is determined by the lunar calendar. Each year, on the 15th day of the eighth month, when the moon is usually at its brightest and roundest, many celebrate the festival with family. The festival focuses on the story of Chang’e, the moon goddess and how the moon became her home. Depending on the variation of the story, some of the details will be different. However, in each version, Chang’e ends up consuming an elixir of immortality and floating to the moon.
The meaning behind the festival is 團圓 (tuan yuan), meaning reunion. It generally references the idea of the family coming back together to meet and spend time with each other.
Mooncakes
One of the most common foods associated with celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival is with mooncakes. Mooncakes are often in the shape of a circle or a square with a design imprinted on the top. Depending on the region, the filling can vary, but the most common mooncakes that can be found in Canada are the Cantonese style. This particular type of mooncake has a glossy coating. The most likely filling you will see in supermarkets are the ones made with lotus seed paste and salted egg yolks (which is said to also represent the moon!). Personally, this is one that I often buy to bring to my grandparents as they enjoy this one the most!
Other common flavours include red bean paste, jujube (red dates) paste, and five kernels (a mixture of nuts and seeds held together with syrup).
Over the years, there have been new and modern influences on mooncakes. The most popular one originating from Hong Kong is the snow skin mooncake. This particular mooncake is not baked but has a glutinous skin that must be kept frozen. Snow skin mooncakes are much more versatile and have many flavours that can be infused or utilized as its filling. This type of dessert is quite similar to the Japanese mochi. You may come across various flavours such as coffee, green tea, red bean and even durian. I personally love this one the most since I love trying new flavours.
One key element to keep in mind about mooncakes is, while delicious and sweet, they can be quite calorie dense! One mooncake can have a calorie count ranging from 700 to 1000 calories. If this is something that you are mindful of, perhaps sharing a cake with family and friends can be a way to partake in the festivities!
Take Away
While a healthy eating pattern contributes to our overall health, it is also essential to have a healthy relationship with food, which can mean eating traditional foods and desserts. Healthy nutrition is just as important as the experience of sharing with each other and enjoying what we eat.
I wish everyone a wonderful Mid-Autumn festival. If you haven’t tried a mooncake before, give this seasonal item a try; you may find yourself enjoying a new dessert item!
By: Kristie Pun, MHSc, RD
Reviewed by: Cheryl Ching, MSc, RD & Pauline Bakowski, MHSc, RD
Disclaimer: our blog content is for general education purposes and may not be suitable for individual health conditions. Please see your health professional or book an appointment with one of our dietitians for personalized health recommendations.
