2012 Moon Festival Celebration In Chinese Class of CSMS

2008 Moon Festival Celebration 1. Introduction 2. Origin 3. Legend 4. Celebration 5. Moon Cake 6. Chinese Moon Poem Recitation 7. End (Enjoy the Beautiful Autumn and Music)

Introduction The Moon festival (also called Mid-Autumn festival, “中秋节 zhong qiu jie” in Chinese) is the second largest traditional festival in China. It is the day for family reunion and the time for celebration of the bumper harvest. The Moon festival happens on the fifteenth (full moon day) of the eighth month in every lunar calendar year. It falls on September 30th in the year 2012.

Origin In ancient times of China, farmers worshipped the Earth God to pray for a good harvest, when they sowed the seeds in spring. During autumn, farmers also worshipped the Earth God to thank him for giving them a good harvest. During the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), the 15th day of the eighth lunar month was designated as the Mid-Autumn Festival. Some beautiful stories about the moon were created when ancient Chinese people were enjoying the round and clear full moon. The festival was later given a mythological flavor with legends of Chang-Er, the beautiful lady in the moon.

Legend According to Chinese mythology, the earth once had 10 suns circling over it. One day, all 10 suns appeared together, scorching the earth with their heat. The earth was saved when a strong archer, Hou Yi, succeeded in shooting down 9 of the suns. Yi stole the elixir of life from the mother of the heaven emperor. However, his beautiful wife, Chang-Er, ate it, flew up to the moon with her rabbit and became the hostess of the moon.

Celebration Family: The festive night can be one of the most charming and picturesque nights and the full moon is an auspicious symbol of abundance, harmony and luck. In Chinese culture, the family represents an important circle of relations that cannot be broken. Because the full moon is round and symbolizes reunion, the moon festival is also known as the festival of reunion. All family members try to get together on this special day, and stay up late to watch the beautiful moon, while eating moon cakes and sipping tea.

Celebration Community: Dragon dance Bejing Opera Folk dance

Moon Cake Moon cake is a kind of symbol food for the Moon festival. The egg yolk inside stands for the moon, while the round shape stands for family unity. There are many versions of moon cakes, each with different ingredients

Story about Moon Cake the Yuan dynasty (A.D. 1280-1368),leaders from the preceding Sung dynasty (A.D. 960-1280) wanted to rebel message hid in moon cake and passed around The night,zhong qiu ye, they successfully attached and overthrew the government.

Chinese Moon Poem Recitation 静夜思 李白 （唐） A Tranquil Night Li Bai, A.D. 726 Recited by students 但愿人长久 苏轼 （宋） May We All Be Blessed with Longevity Su Shi A.D. 1076 Recited by the teacher

静 夜 思 A Tranquil Night 床 前 明 月 光， 疑 是 地 上 霜。 静 夜 思 A Tranquil Night   床 前 明 月 光， 疑 是 地 上 霜。 A bed, I see a silver light, I wonder if it is frost aground. 举 头 望 明 月， 低 头 思 故 乡。 Look up, I find the moon bright, bowing, in homesickness I am drowned.

May We All Be Blessed with Longevity   但   愿  人   长   久 May We All Be Blessed with Longevity 明 月 几 时 有 ， 把  酒 问 青 天 。 When will the moon be bright? With a cup of wine in my hand, I ask the sky.   不   知 天 上 宫 阙 ，  今 夕 是 何  年 。 I don't know what season it would be in the heavens on this night. 我 欲 乘 风 归 去 ，又 恐 琼 楼  玉 宇 高 处   不 胜 寒 。 I'd like to ride the wind to the moon. Yet I fear the crystal and jade mansions there are much too high and cold for me. 起 舞   弄 清 影 ，  何 似 在 人 间 。 Dancing with the moonlit shadow, it seems quite lonely.  

She would have no sorrow, why is she full but people are apart? 转 朱 阁 ， 低 绮 户 ，  照 无 眠 。 The moon rounds the red mansion, stoops to silk-pad doors and shines upon the sleepless.   不   应 有 恨 ，  何 事 长 向   别 时 圆 。 She would have no sorrow, why is she full but people are apart? 人 有 悲 欢 离 合，月 有 阴 晴 圆 缺 此 事 古 难 全 。 People may have sorrow or joy, be near or far apart, while the moon may be dim or bright, wax or wane. This has been going on since the beginning of time. 但 愿 人 长 久 ， 千  里  共 婵 娟 。 May we all be blessed with longevity. Even though far apart, we are still able to share the beauty of the moon together.

The Mid-Autumn Festival and the beautiful autumn Enjoy The Mid-Autumn Festival (Moon Festival) and the beautiful autumn