mind the gap

Singapore Living

Wednesday, August 11, 2004

Mid-autumn/Mooncake/Lantern Festival

The Mid-autumn (or Mooncake) festival is celebrated by Chinese all over the world on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month in the Chinese calendar. It usually falls in late September or early October. The moon, a symbol of wholeness, unity and harmony in Chinese traditions, is the brightest and fullest on this day.It is an ancient Chinese tradition that marks the onset of the harvest season. It also marks the beginning of the autumn equinox, when nights become longer and the moon appears in its fullest glow.

This festival is extremely important to the Chinese for its historical value. On this day, every family member who has moved out of the house for school or work returns to his or her hometown to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival — an equivalent of Thanksgiving in the United States and Canada.

Family members and loved ones gather under the full moon to eat mooncakes, pomegranates, pomelos and dates in the open air, washed down with good Chinese tea. The adults chat late into the night, admiring the moon in the cool breeze, while the children run around nearby carry lanterns of all shapes and sizes.


Legends
There are many legends and superstitions connected with the Mid-autumn festival. For the modern young Chinese worldwide, many of whom are Christian, they are just that - legends and superstitions. But they still celebrate the Mid-autumn festival. Why pass up another opportunity to feast with friends and family?

Here are some of the legends and superstitions:
Moon worship
In ancient China, people regarded the full moon as a symbol of reunion. The common folk and emperors worshipped and enjoyed viewing the moon. The tradition of worshipping the moon was observed on a broader scale both by the emperors and common folk during the Soong(960-1127), Ming (1368-1644)and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. It was customary to set up a table laden with mooncakes, pomegranates, pomelos and dates in open air.

Superstitious Chinese believe that if you desire flawless skin, you should cut the pomelo in front of the moon. The peeling away of the thick pomelo skin (riddled with tiny dimples) signifies peeling away facial scars or pimples.

Some also believe that when you peel off the skin of boiled mini yams (wu chai in Cantonese), you get rid of facial imperfections. Peanuts and sponge cakes are auspicious offerings in the hope for "good health.'' The cakes are also thought to be a favourite food of the deities and are said to be excellent offerings for upward mobility.

Chang-Er the Moon Goddess
There are many different versions of this legend, each having a different ending.

One story has it that she was married to the divine archer Hou Yi, who shot nine out of 10 suns that were causing havoc. For his deed, the Queen Mother of the West gave him the elixir of life. Chang-Er stole her husband's potion of immortality, drank it and found herself floating to the moon. There she lives out her days in the cold lonely moon palace with a furry rabbit for companion.

A slightly different version says that Hou Yi was a tyrannical ruler. Chang-Er drank the magic potion to prevent him from becoming immortal.

Another myth tells of woodcutter Wu Gang who was banished to the moon and became Chang-Er's friend and servant. The Jade Emperor punished Wu Gang by ordering him to cut down a cassia tree. It was a task that could never be completed as the tree is immortal and would grow back each time it is felled.

During this festival, the Chinese (the few remaining who can still remember any Chinese myths) remember the courageous Chang E.

Chinese Revolt against the Mongols
The bearing of lanterns and the origin of mooncakes are also said to date back to a 14th century revolt by the Chinese against the Mongols.

In 1280 AD, the Mongolians destroyed the Song Dynasty and controlled China during the Yuan Dynasty (1280AD -1368 AD). Under Mongolian rule, Chinese people were oppressed, persecuted and treated like slaves. Finally, the Chinese had enough and planned a revolution to be held during the August Moon Festival in 1368(or 76?).

Because Mongolians don't eat mooncakes, the Chinese planned to overthrow the Mongolians by sending secret messages in mooncakes. Chinese bakers were told to send mooncakes to all Chinese households with the message to execute all Mongolians after the August Moon family gathering. Chinese families were instructed to not to eat the mooncakes until the 15th of the 8th lunar moon.

To remember this victorious revolt against the Mongolians, eating mooncakes became an important part of the celebrations.


Mooncakes
Mooncakes are also known as "reunion cakes'' as family members gather to partake of the sweet confectionery.

Mooncakes are also eaten throughout the month before the actual festival day. They make meaningful gifts for kith and kin.

For generations, mooncakes have been made with sweet fillings of nuts, mashed red beans, lotus-seed paste or Chinese dates. Many regional types of mooncakes have evolved through time. The development of each type of mooncake was governed by the availability of resources, economic environment, and regional taste preferences. Here are some of the most widely known types:

Soochow-style Mooncake. This is hand made and has a flaky cover with fruit and nut content known for its layers of flaky dough and generous allotment of sugar and lard.

Peking-style Mooncake. This type has two variations. One is called "Ti-chiang", which has a light foamy dough. The other variation is called "Fan-Mao" and has a flaky white dough. The two most popular fillings are Mountain hawthorn and Wisteria blossom.

Ningpo-style Mooncake. This type has a compact covering and the fillings are either seaweed or ham. This type is also known for its spicy and salty flavor.

Yunnan-style Mooncake. This is a combination of various flours used for the dough—rice, wheat buckwheat and more. Most of the variations within this style are sweet.

Cantonese-style Mooncake. This has up to 200 variations. However, two prominent characteristics can still be identified among all these variations. First, the dough is somewhat sweet. Second, the Mooncakes are shaped by a wooden mold. As for the fillings, the ingredients used are various and endless. Melon seed paste, lotus seed paste, ham, chicken, duck, roast pork, mushrooms, and egg yolks are some of the common ingredients.

Great places to buy mooncakes in Singapore
Traditional Snow-skin
Da Zhong Guo (main store in Chinatown) - snow-skin, double yolk
Tung Lok
Eater's Palace ("Shi Zhen", 26 Lor 15 Geylang Singapore 388613; Tel: 6741 8893/People's Park Complex/Bugis Junction) - Kapitan (two-layered filling of red bean paste and yam paste)
Golden Peony (Conrad Hotel)
Raffles Hotel Mooncakes

Traditional Baked
East Ocean
Goodwood Park Hotel

Nouveau
Flavours
During the Mid-autumn Festival in Singapore, everyone and anyone gets in on the act...even Starbucks!
Crown Prince Hotel - fried yam paste
Garden Pastry & Cake (Blk 95 Aljunied Crescent #01-505/507; Tel: 67455706) - crispy yam
Conrad Hotel - green tea; ginseng; pumpkin
St Honoure (stall in Thomson Plaza, Carrefour Suntec City) - orange pine nuts
Li Bai (Sheraton Tower) - flaky skin fried yam paste
Harbour City Restaurant - french cheese snow-skin, peppermint green tea snow-skin, walnut, macadamia nut, cappuccino moon-tarts
PrimaDeli - black sesame and skippy peanut butter
Marriot Hotel - orange with walnuts
Tung Lok - persimmon, kumquat
Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant (Concorde Hotel) - egg custard
Swensen's - vanilla with honey roasted sunflower seed, durian, black and white sesame
Starbucks(!) - cafe espresso paste with macadamia nuts

Takashimaya Square (Basement 2, Ngee Ann City) usually has a mooncake bazaar on its grounds bringing together many hotels and small mooncake makers.

List of brands, flavours, prices
Lavender
Publicity literature:
"The Festival of the Radiant Moon
With over 20 years of baking experience, Lavender is renowned for our mooncakes especially our very classic Lotus Paste Mooncake which is baked to perfection using the best quality lotus seeds from Hunan Province. Our all-time favourite-Single Yolk Golden Jade Gem Mooncake is as good as the name sounds: made from all natural ingredients such as pandan juice, green bean paste and a whole egg yolk wrapped in the centre that is sure to leave your taste buds sensationalised and yearning for more! In this hot and humid summer let our exquisite line of Snow Skin Selection be your best choice for regreshment and taste."
Takashimaya Square Basement 2
Bugis Junction Basement 1
Junction 8 Atrium Level 2
Lot 1 Atrium Level 1
Century Square Level 1
Jurong Point Level 1
Tel: 9788 8800/9069 2908
Email: threelinks333@yahoo.com

Red Lotus Paste Mooncake
Pure Red Lotus Paste: S$5.20 per piece, S$20.80 per tin (4 pieces)
Single Yolk Red Lotus Paste: S$5.70 per piece, S$22.80 per tin (4 pieces)
Double Yolk Red Lotus Paste: S$6.20 per piece, S$24.80 per tin (4 pieces)
Four Yolk Red Lotus Paste: S$9.20 per piece, S$36.80 per tin (4 pieces)
Vegetarian Red Lotus Paste: S$5.70 per piece, S$22.80 per tin (4 pieces)
Single Yolk Shanghai Red Lotus Paste: S$6.20 per piece, S$24.80 per tin (4 pieces)

Golden Jade Paste Mooncake
Golden Jade Paste: S$5.20 per piece, S$20.80 per tin (4 pieces)
Single Yolk Golden Jade Paste: S$5.70 per piece, S$22.80 per tin (4 pieces)
Single Yolk Golden Jade Gem: S$6.20 per piece, S$24.80 per tin (4 pieces)

White Lotus Paste Mooncake
White Lotus Paste: S$5.70 per piece, S$22.80 per tin (4 pieces)
Single Yolk White Lotus Paste: S$6.20 per piece, S$24.80 per tin (4 pieces)
Double Yolk White Lotus Paste: S$6.70 per piece, S$26.80 per tin (4 pieces)

Delightful Selection Mooncake
Red Bean Paste: S$4.95 per piece, S$19.80 per tin (4 pieces)
Green Tea Lotus Paste: S$5.70 per piece, S$22.80 per tin (4 pieces)
Durian Lotus Paste: S$5.70 per piece, S$22.80 per tin (4 pieces)
Sugar-Free Lotus Paste: S$6.20 per piece, S$24.80 per tin (4 pieces)
Mixed Nuts: S$6.45 per piece, S$25.80 per tin (4 pieces)

White Lotus Paste Snow Skin Mooncake
White Lotus Paste Banana Snow Skin: S$5.70 per piece, S$22.80 per tin (4 pieces)
Double Yolk White Lotus Paste Banana Snow Skin: S$6.70 per piece, S$26.80 per tin (4 pieces)

Golden Jade Paste Snow Skin Mooncake
Golden Jade Paste Pandan Snow Skin: S$5.20 per piece, S$20.80 per tin (4 pieces)
Double Yolk Golden Jade Paste Pandan Snow Skin: S$6.20 per piece, S$24.80 per tin (4 pieces)

Delightful Selection Snow Skin Mooncake
Red Bean Paste Strawberry Snow Skin: S$4.95 per piece, S$19.80 per tin (4 pieces)
Green Tea Lotus Paste Snow Skin: S$5.70 per piece, S$22.80 per tin (4 pieces)
White Bean Paste Sesame Snow Skin: S$5.70 per piece, S$22.80 per tin (4 pieces)
Durian Lotus Paste Snow Skin: S$5.70 per piece, S$22.80 per tin (4 pieces)
Pine Seed Orange Paste Snow Skin: S$6.20 per piece, S$24.80 per tin (4 pieces)
Single Yolk Yam Paste Snow Skin: S$6.20 per piece, S$24.80 per tin (4 pieces)


Lanterns


Festival Events in Singapore
Chinatown
Festival Street Market (11 - 28 Sept 2004)
Sago Street, Trengganu Street and Pagoda Street
Exciting, colourful and vibrant stalls of all kinds will beckon and entice with tidbits, mooncakes, lanterns and decorative items.

Festival Carnival (18 Sept - 10 Oct 2004)
Open field beside Sago Street and Sago Lane
Lantern display and carnival ground offering a wide variety of festive goodies and showcases a display of lanterns.

Night of Riddles (19 Sept 2004)
Kreta Ayer
Join in the fun unravelling Chinese riddles, a popular tradition associated with the festival since ancient times.

For more information, visit the Singpaore Tourism Board's site at http://visitsingapore.com/maf/

mind the gap