On September 4, 11, and 18, the Chinese Cultural Centre will hold the Mid-Autumn Festival for all Calgarians. It’s a colorful and lively festival filled with lanterns, food, music, and dance.
Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, is an annual traditional festival celebrated in Chinese culture. It is meant to showcase their rich culture through traditional food, arts and crafts, and different kinds of performances.
The Mid-Autumn Festival dates back 3000 years. It was derived from the custom of worshiping the moon during autumn to thank it for the bountiful harvest.
Now, it has since grown into a tradition where families gather together and pray for good health and happiness.
The Chinese Cultural Centre, which holds this event every year, is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to serving the Chinese community of Calgary and the surrounding area since 1992.
They undertake educational and cultural programs such as the Mid-autumn festival to enrich the lives of Calgarians.
Something you shouldn’t miss with this festival, in particular, is the chance to taste and learn how to make your mooncakes. Mooncakes are rich pastries filled with either sweet bean or lotus seed paste traditionally eaten during the festival.
These cakes, shaped after a full moon, show the moon worship aspect of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Aside from mooncakes, you can also learn how to make lanterns and dream catchers at the event.
Lanterns are significant because they have been associated with the festival since the Tang Dynasty. They symbolize luck, light, and familial togetherness, which are all three important aspects celebrated during the festival.
Dream catchers are believed by the community to filter out all bad dreams and allow good thoughts to enter the mind. They’re meant to protect children while they sleep.
You can register for one event during the morning and one in the afternoon. Admission is free and it’s a great family activity for all ages.
It’s a great chance to celebrate diversity and learn more about rich Chinese culture. You can find the Chinese Cultural Centre at 197 1st Street Southwest, Calgary.
