中華傳統文化節慶教本之七. Traditional Chinese Festivals Handbook. 美國舊金山慧智文教基金會 Wisdom Culture & Education Organization

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1 中華傳統文化節慶教本之七 Traditional Chinese Festivals Handbook English version 美國舊金山慧智文教基金會 Wisdom Culture & Education Organization 傳藝寰宇文教有限公司 Global Culture Awareness Organization

2 The Origin and Legend of the Moon Festival Fall marks the start of the harvesting season. Once people gathered the crops, they worshipped the Land God to show their gratitude, which is called Qiū bào. In ancient times, the kings would also worship the moon during this season to show their respect. This action, Jì yuè, was done on lunar calendar August 15th as it was a day in the fall where a full moon appeared. Gradually, the Moon Festival was most likely originated from the traditions of Qiū bào and Jì yuè. It is also called Mid-Autumn Festival. Legend - Cháng é Flew to the Moon Legend says that in ancient times, ten suns rose into the sky together, which burned all the crops and the land, causing people to suffer. A brave man, named Hòuyì, used a bow and arrows to shoot down nine of the ten suns and saved the people. Thus, people selected Hòuyì to become the king. Later, Hòuyì asked an immortal to give him the elixir and let his wife, Cháng é, to keep it for him. One day, while Hòuyì was out hunting, a bad guy, Péng méng, threatened Cháng é with a knife to give him the elixir. Cháng é refused and anxiously swallowed the medicine. Surprisingly, her body became lighter and lighter and she flew to the moon. As a result, she became the Moon Goddess. It is said the day Cháng é flew to the moon was August 15th; as a result, people chose to worship the moon on this day every year. Legend also says that a rabbit accompanies Cháng é on the moon!

3 The Change in the Moon s Crest The moon itself does not glow, but it gets its glow from the sun shining on it. For the people living on Earth, the moon will appear in different shapes every day. This also depends on the position of the sun, the moon, and the Earth. When the hemisphere of the moon facing the Earth is fully illuminated by the sun, and then we are able to see the full moon. Landing on the Moon On July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon in Apollo 11. They are known to have created history in the space world. As Armstrong was the first human to ever set foot on the moon, he stated that s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. They discovered that the moon s surface was simply full of craters and no life existed on it. Even so, looking at the sky from the Earth, the moon is still beautiful and is loved by many.

4 Traditional Customs of the Moon Festival Worshipping the Moon People prepare moon cakes and fruit as offerings. Gatherings A full moon represents something that is full or the state where everything is perfect; therefore, on this day, the entire family gathers together and celebrates. Moon-watching A full moon appears on the night of the Moon Festival. Its large and round size gives off beauty and intrigues people to watch it.

5 Unique Traditional Customs of the Moon Festival in Taiwan 1 Stealing vegetables On the night of the Moon Festival, girls secretly pick vegetables, as legend says that with this, they can obtain happiness. Parading at night In Yunlin Zhaoan, people hold torches and parade around the neighborhood on the night of the Moon Festival. This represents the protection of their own home. Cutting the thief s head On the Moon Festival, people cut off the top of pomelos at their front door, which is said to prevent thieves. Mooncake Gambling By throwing six dice, people who win can earn prizes based on the results. Legend in ancient times says that the results brought good luck for exams.

6 Unique Traditional Customs of the Moon Festival in Taiwan 2 Barbeque on the Moon Festival? Barbecuing on the Moon Festival is not an original tradition. People in Taiwan started this tradition in the 1980s, as two soy-sauce companies advertised their barbecue sauce around this festival. Unconsciously, barbecuing has became the most important activity on this day. However, the barbecue smoke pollutes the air and is also bad for the health. This tradition needs to be changed. Traditional Foods on the Moon Festival Moon Cakes They are the most important food on the festival. Ducks People in Měinóng have a tradition to eat duck meats which are tasty in the fall. Pomelos This fruit becomes ripe during the season of the festival. Taro Rice Noodles It is a Taiwanese tradition that eating this will bring luck in finding a good job. Osmanthus Duck It is called salted duck as well. Some people will add osmanthus sugar for flavor. At the same time, people eat taros covered in osmanthus sugar. It is a tradition in Jiāngnán.

7 日本東國臺灣韓南亞How Much Do You Know about Moon Cakes? Moon cakes became an important food for the Moon Festival about 600 years ago. There are many different types of moon cakes. The ones listed below are the most popular: Mung Bean Cake Taro Pastry, Yolk Pastry Snowy Moon Cake Suzhou-Style Moon Cake Cantonese Moon Cake Beijing-Style Moon Cake How Do Other Countries Celebrate the Moon Festival? Japan They use tsukimi dango as offerings to worship the moon and decorate with miscanthus. Southeast Asia Aside from eating moon cakes, people carry lanterns around at night and attend lantern events. Korea This is a day of gratitude. Families gather together and clean ancestors graves. They also eat delicious Sōng bǐng

8 Poem Cháng é (Written by Lishāngyǐn Tang Dynasty) Yún mǔ píng fēng zhú yǐng shēn 雲母屏風燭影深 The candle light that reflects on the mica screen gradually darkens. cháng hé jiàn luò xiǎo xīng chén 長河漸落曉星沉 As the sun rises, the stars slowly fall and the milky way becomes invisible gradually. cháng é yīng huǐ Yún mǔ píng fēng zhú yǐng shēn cháng hé jiàn luò xiǎo xīng chén 雲母屏風燭影深, 長河漸落曉星沉 cháng é yīng huǐ tōu líng yào bì hǎi qīng tiān yè yè xīn 嫦娥應悔偷靈藥, 碧海青天夜夜心 tōu líng yào 嫦娥應悔偷靈藥 Cháng é probably regrets secretly eating the elixir. bì hǎi qīng tiān yè yè xīn 碧海青天夜夜心 Every night, she lonely gazes at the dark blue sky that looks as big as the ocean. 中華傳統文化節慶教本之七花好月圓慶中秋 編譯插美術設計出版發行 者 : 慧智文教基金會教材編輯小組者 : 慧智文教基金會教材編輯小組畫 : 慧智文教基金會教材編輯小組 : 慧智文教基金會教材編輯小組 : 美國舊金山慧智文教基金會 Wisdom Culture & Education Organization 傳藝寰宇文教有限公司 Global Culture Awareness Organization 金額 :$0( 免費提供 ) 聯絡電話 :(510) 電子書網址 : curriculum@wceo.org 通訊處 :44599 South Grimmer Blvd., Fremont, CA 教材編號 :CT007 本教材文字部分均屬慧智文教基金會及傳藝寰宇有限公司所有 所有提供下載的文件及圖片, 屬原網站擁有者版權所有, 僅供慧智文化週教學暨親子閱讀使用 請勿隨意複製及流傳, 或做教學及家庭使用以外的其他商業行為, 並不可將全部或部分的內容複製或重製修改後, 轉載於任何形式的媒體