Many families look forward to celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival in Singapore. It has been part of the Singaporean tradition to have an annual celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival in the country.
People are taking this celebration as an opportunity to give thanks to the gods. The time when people celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival is also a time of year the moon is at its brightest.
It is the primary reason why lunar legends are attached and consistently commemorate this particular event. Upon celebrating this event, Singaporeans also greet each other and express their gratitude toward one another.
Aside from that, people send moon cakes to their friends, relatives, and business partners. This kind of practice intends to express their gracious greetings and good wishes to each other.
Celebrating the Mooncake Festival
Aside from being called the Mid-Autumn Festival, a lot of you may also recognise it as the Mooncake Festival or Moon Festival. It is a traditional festival celebrated by Chinese communities across the world. In fact, it’s the second-most important holiday after the Chinese New Year.
According to Chinese culture, the moon is full and at its brightest form on this day, which coincides with the harvest time in the middle of autumn. This is why it holds such significance in the traditional sense.
During the festivities, you probably noticed the abundance of mooncakes. Because of this, most people ended up alternating the two names of the festival.
There’s plenty to know about the mid-autumn festival and here’s our handy guide to get you up to speed with it.
7 Ways to Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival in Singapore With Your Kids
Annually, the Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th month in the Chinese Lunar calendar. People believe that it is the time when the moon is at its brightest and fullest.
This year, Singapore will celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival on the 10th of September, 2022. Here are the seven ways in which you can celebrate the event with your kids:
Mid-Autumn Festival 2022 at Gardens by the Bay
The whole family may enjoy the celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival at the Gardens By The Bay. In this year’s celebration of the event, the theme revolves around reunions.
The organisers aim to bring family and friends together and enjoy the eye-pleasing lantern displays. Visitors can witness the arrangement of lights in the Gardens as soon as the night falls.
Time: 6 PM to 10 PM
When: August 27 to September 11
Location: 18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953
Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival 2022
You and the kids will definitely enjoy the show when you attend the Mid-Autumn Festival in Chinatown this 2022. It will mainly be focusing on traditional Chinese lanterns and some exhibitions.
Additionally, you can drop by the food fair and see the former Chinatown Food Street at Smit Street. There, the organisers planned to transform the area into a nostalgic, bustling bazaar with street-style delights.
When: August 26 to September 25, 2022
Location: Chinatown, Singapore
Image Source: iStock
Wan Qing Mid-Autumn Festival 2022
Looking for an excellent way to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival 2022 while learning more about the culture and heritage of Singapore? Good news! You and the kids can surely enjoy the even while learning. All you need to do is drop by Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall in Singapore!
You may join the Qan Qing Mid-Autumn Festival 2022 as they host exciting activities celebrating Chines arts, culture, and heritage. During the celebration, you will discover the story and traditions behind the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Time: 10 AM to 9 PM
When: August 16 to September 25, 2022
Location: Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, Singapore
Lights by the Lake 2022 @ Jurong Lake Gardens
Jurong Lake Gardens will be celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival at the annual Lights by The Lake 2022. The event will be mainly about the strength and resilience of the country against diversity.
When you attend the event, you will be able to witness the spectacular displays of lanterns at Jurong Lake Gardens. Aside from that, there would also be a weekly concert by homegrown artists on Fridays and Saturdays.
When: August 25 to September 18, 2022
Location: Jurong Lake Gardens, Singapore
Moonfest 2022 – A Mid-Autumn Celebration
At this event celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival, there will be a range of traditional Chinese arts, performances, and activities. These activities are perfect for the whole family.
Additionally, interested visitors get to experience an on-site live performance and ticketed workshops. They also offer a teaser and behind-the-scenes look at the festivities online.
It will give a chance for families and friends to witness and rediscover the intrinsic beauty of Chinese culture. This event also highlights different traditional Chinese arts related to the Mid-Autumn Festival in Singapore.
When: September 9 to 11, 2022
Location: The Esplande
Moon-LIT! Mid-Autumn Festival
The Singapore Discovery Centre will also have its way of celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival. It marks the harvest season with fun festivities through Moon-LIT! Mid-Autumn Festival.
During this event, there will be fun workshops, lantern walks, and harmonious melodies that all members of the family will enjoy. Kids will have fun discovering different tales and games across cultures.
If you plan on attending this event, expect that you will be able to harvest all good tidings under the moonlit evening.
When: September 3, 4, 9, and 10, 2022
Location: Singapore Discovery Centre
ELFA Preschool’s Free Virtual Mid-Autumn Festival Event
Are you looking for something a little bit more child-friendly for your little ones? Maybe an event related to the Mid-Autumn Festival catered to the youngest members of your family?
Well, we have good news for you! ELFA Preschool planned to host a Mid-Autumn Festival Virtual Open House.
At this event, kids can discover all should know about the Mid-Autumn Festival. They will have the chance to know more about the mooncakes as well as the origin of the festival. Additionally, the children will be involved in a virtual learning journey about the festival.
Time: 10 AM
When: September 10, 2022
History Surrounding the Mid-Autumn Festival
Image Source: iStock
The festival dates back to the Song dynasty in China, around 2,000 years ago. It was celebrated mainly to thank the gods in the belief that this would bring a good harvest in the following year.
But there are many myths surrounding the origins of the mid-autumn festival. The most popular one is about the selfless woman, Chang’E.
She drank the elixir of immortality to save the country from her ruthless husband, a notoriously arrogant ruler. After she drank the elixir, she was transported to the heavens.
The Chinese community also worship Chang E as the moon goddess. It’s also believed that she blesses her followers with beauty. So in her honour, devotees light lanterns.
In another legend, Lord Buddha disguised himself as an old man while seeking help from three animals. The monkey brought him some fruits, while the fox caught a fish for him.
On the other hand, the rabbit went and sacrificed itself as food. In gratitude, Buddha resurrected the rabbit and sent him to the moon to be honoured. This made him the immortal Jade Rabbit.
The legend continues that the rabbit stayed in the moon palace ever since. Accompanying Chang E. Tales said that he pounds immortal medicine for those living in the heavens.
Celebrations to Expect During the Mooncake Festival
Singapore residents celebrate the festival in community centres and clan associations, as well as within households and neighbourhoods.
On this day, people spend time with their loved ones and consume mooncakes, tea and pomelos. On the other hand, kids enjoy playing or crafting with lanterns.
Lanterns
Today, the mid-autumn festival is a time to celebrate the moon with your family and friends, and of course food. The celebrations kickstart once the sun goes down.
Before, people used paper lanterns lit with candles. Nowadays, they shifted to a much safer form alternative of celebration.
Thanks to the advancements in technology, battery-operated and plastic lanterns replaced most candlelit lanterns. During this time. most kids can be seen carrying these lanterns around their housing estates.
Image Source: iStock
Feasting On Mooncakes
Buying and eating mooncakes is a big part of the Mid-autumn festival celebrations in Singapore. But have you wondered why people eat mooncakes on this day?
Legends say that mooncakes helped to free Yuan China from Mongol rule in the mid-14th century. The rebellion used mooncakes to hide messages that called for an uprising on the night of mid-autumn.
The traditional mooncake is a round pastry filled with lotus seeds and salted egg yolk. The circular shape of the mooncake signifies domestic harmony and the fullness of the moon.
On this day, you get the pretty patterned mooncakes along with the snow-skinned ones in pastel colours. Every year, restaurants and bakeries tickle the taste buds of Singapore’s residents with such fancy creations.
Oh yes, and there is an interesting mix of fillings to please every palate. You can choose mooncakes in new flavours, which may include ice cream, chocolate or any sweet filling.
It is a perfect gift to share with your friends and also gift your partners. This exchange symbolises love, respect and esteem.
5 Ways To Celebrate the Mooncake Festival in Singapore at Home
Image Source: iStock
Festivals are a great occasion to involve your kids and let them know about the country’s rich heritage and acquaint them with different traditions. Here are five ways to celebrate the festival with your kids.
Make Mooncakes Together
There are several shops across that sell mooncake moulds. You can also give your little ones some playdough and they can have a jolly time making playdough mooncakes in different colours.
Teach Them Gratitude
You should take the time out to be grateful for what you have, the people who are with you, and the fortune that you have amassed. The festival is a perfect occasion to teach gratitude to your child.
Gift a Book
There are some great books that you can gift your child on this occasion. For instance, Happy Mooncake Festival, Elena!, is a book for kids that they will find interesting to know more about the festival and the activities done during this period.
Make Paper Lanterns at Home
Paper lanterns are a great way to decorate your house and the streets. The best part is you won’t require any special materials and they aren’t difficult to make at all. Moreover, they are definitely more eco-friendly than plastic ones.
Appreciate the Moon
Spend some time with your child to sit back and relax to appreciate the moon. Sometimes, pausing to appreciate nature’s beauty is a great experience for kids, especially in the digital era.
This article was updated by Kaira De la Rosa and Kamille Uriella Batuyong.
