Mid-Autumn Festival
Suitable for Grades 7-10
Ignite Curiosity!
WORD BANK
Look at the images and word bank from Mid-Autumn Festival, discuss what students see and predict what the festival might be about.
Explore Ideas!
WHAT IS MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL?
Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional festival celebrated annually in China and globally by Chinese communities. It's a lunar festival, which means the date changes yearly, but is always in Autumn, on Month 8, Day 15 of the lunar calendar. That day is always in September or October. The festival centres around enjoying the full moon and, like all festivals, has special foods to eat and different activities. There is also a well known myth from the festival, ‘Chang’e the Moon Goddess’.
HOW IS IT CELEBRATED?
Students explore the videos and readings, recording key information and then discussing with a partner how Mid Autumn Festival is celebrated.
Read Mid Autumn Festival: Celebrations, Greetings, Origins and identify key information about Mid-Autumn Festival and how it is celebrated.
EXPLORE GLOBAL CELEBRATIONS
Mid-Autumn Festival is not only celebrated in China, but across East and South East Asia. Consider which countries this includes. Explore the videos to identify similarities and difference between celebrations and consider why communities around the world (outside of China/Asia) celebrate it.
Mid-Autumn Festival – “Children’s Day in Vietnam”
How the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated around the world
Gardens By the Bay Mid-Autumn Festival Light up 2018: Singapore
Extension: The Rabbit in the Moon Story
During the Mid-Autumn Festival Changér Flies to the Moon is a commonly told story. It is based on the myth of Houyi and Changér and also references a 'rabbit in the moon'. The idea of a rabbit in the moon can be found in other cultural stories, including ancient Aztecs.
Explore the global links of this story through the videos and activities on these pages.
Create!
WRITE A LANTERN WITH A RIDDLE
Lantern making is a common activity at Mid-Autumn Festival. Riddles are often inscribed on the lanterns as part of the festival and seen as a fun activity. Explore how riddles work here and try writing your own.
Make a lantern (find simple and complex lantern making activity cards here), including a riddle (find Riddle Writing activity card here), inscribed on the lantern just like they do at Mid-Autumn Festival.
PLAN A CELEBRATION
Individually, in pairs or small groups, plan how you could celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival at your school. Brainstorm ideas, consider different activities, foods eaten (cooked/sold), who can attend, how to advertise it (school social media, posters) etc. Design educational materials eg. poster or video for the school community, to display or share to educate others about the holiday or festival.
MAKE MOONCAKES!
Follow the instructions below to make either a no-bake mooncake or a cooked version.
Adam Liaw’s delicious no-bake mooncake
How to make moon cakes at home-easy recipe
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