The Mid-autumn Festival which occurs on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month (around mid-September) is an occasion for viewing the full moon because on that night the moon is supposed to be brighter and fuller than any other night. In China, the round moon is a symbol for completeness, and by extension, family reunion, which is why that day is also known as the “Day of Reunion”.
        In ancient China, the moon was considered by scholars as a symbol of brightness, purity, and goodness. Poets of the past wrote many beautiful odes to the moon. Not only was the moon an inspiration to writers but it was also a source of many myths and legends. The most popular myth was a story about a woman named Chang E who flew to the moon and lived in the Moon Palace. The specialty of the day is the yuebing (moon cake), a round pastry filled with nuts, candied preserved fruits, bean paste, duck egg yolks, etc. During this festival, people eat the moon cake made of wheat flour and sweet stuffing such as sugar and lotus seed powder. The festival is a time for families to gather to burn incense and eat fruits in addition to the moon cake. The cake is traditionally cut into pieces that equal the number of people in the family. While tradition abounds during this festival, the essence of this festival is the harmony and happiness of family life, which is something that can be understood by all.
      The Spring Festival, the Chinese lunar New Year, is celebrated according to the lunar calendar, and generally occurs some time in the first half of February. Generally speaking, the Spring Festival is the time for rest, relaxation and celebration after a year’s toil. Customarily, lavishly consuming food and drink is a major activity. In addition to the popular seafood, poultry and meat, regional custom dictates the preparation and consumption of traditional favorites, for example, jiaozi (boiled dumplings) in Beijing, babaofan (a steamed sweet glutinous rice pudding) in Shanghai, and the soup of small rice-balls (cooked with pork and chicken) in Guangzhou. Throughout China, niangao (literally meaning the “year cake”, a thick steamed pudding of glutinous rice flour) is made in a great variety of shapes and flavors. The character gao in the word niangao is homonymous with the word “tall”, suggesting “growing up and prospering” in the new year.