Celebrating Mooncake Festival in Chinese Culture

My favourite Singapore food culture festival might just be the Mooncake Festival. Celebrated in mid-autumn, usually in September, to give thanks for the harvest. In short, it’s the Asian Thanksgiving.

Mooncake You Say?

Moon cakes themselves are dense, filled pastries. Some have a more dense, pie-like crust, while others have a flaky crust. The filling is sweet, traditionally made from red bean or lotus paste. Often this sweet filling envelops one or several salted duck egg yolks – symbols of the full moon. This sweet/salty combo isn’t for everyone but provides a unique eating experience.

In Singapore, they have unique ones, such as ice cream, bubble tea, and Durian flavours mooncakes.

Because moon cakes are typically large and very filling, they are often cut into wedges and taken with tea. Although these are the more traditional styles, modern moon cakes have a variety of crusts and filling flavours, and even are sometimes made in fun colours! While you may make yourself sick eating a whole one, having little pieces all week with your tea (or coffee!) is delicious.

Mooncake Festival Traditions

The Legend of Mooncake Festival

The celebration is linked to Chang E, the mythical Moon Goddess of Immortality. The sharing of mooncakes among family and their round shape represents completeness and reunion. According to legend, mooncakes were given by Han rebel leader Liu Fu Tong to his friends with a secret message inside about when to begin the revolution that helped overthrow the Mongols and end the Yuan dynasty.

That’s a lot of power for a dessert!

Mooncake Festival Around The World

In Singapore, I hardly ever buy a Mooncake myself. It’s usually given at work. Also, my Chinese landlord usually has plenty of it at home, given by her relatives and friends, which she used to share with me.

On rare occasions, when the craving kicks in I can stop at Starbucks and buy a mini version.

There is also an ongoing competition among vendors during the Mooncake Festival in Singapore. Which ones have the best mooncakes and to give to others.

In Australia, the Mid Autumn Festival celebration is pretty mild compared to Singapore. In Melbourne, they usually open a bazaar in front of the Crown Casino for a few days. But even there, the Mooncake is hard to find, especially the ones with delicious fillings.

Have you tried Mooncake before? What’s your favourite filling? Mine is the egg yolk. Yum!

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