Mid-Autumn in Mid-September

Just the other day, the Chinese celebrated a holiday called the Mid-Autumn festival.  I know, I know.  It's technically still summer.  But let's not ruin their fun.

In a nutshell, this is the deal with the Mid-Autumn holiday. Way back when, Chinese families would gather together around this time on the night of the full moon.  They'd sit around and kibitz, much like my Polish family who sits around a dining room table, grazing for hours on end, and the little ones would run around like small maniacs carrying paper lanterns, much like my Polish cousins minus the lanterns.

Now a days, the holiday still aligns with the full moon.  Families still gather, but usually at the beach and instead of candle lit lanterns (can you say fire hazard?) they carry glow sticks or lanterns with small battery operated light bulbs in them. 

But here is the thing about the Mid-Autumn Festival.... both then and now.  For the family members who couldn't be with you to celebrate, you look up at the big, round, full moon and you think of them.  And you know that know matter where you are and no matter where they are, you're all staring up at the same moon. 

Here's some snapshots of our first Mid-Autumn Festival.

Tripp in his traditional Chinese garb

Reagan the little China girl

Games at The Lily's Mid-Autumn celebration

Like father, like daughter

Lots of lanterns

Ready to hit the beach with their glow sticks and Angry Birds lanterns.

Lobby of The Lily

Repulse Bay Beach

Building sand castles by moonlight

Mid-Autumn joy!

Building with Bella ;-)