English Interviews: How to Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival?

The Mid - Autumn Festival is one of the most important traditional festivals in China, which is deeply rooted in Chinese culture and history. It usually falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, when the moon is at its fullest and brightest. This festival is a time for family reunions, feasting, and enjoying the beauty of the full moon. To understand how people celebrate this festival, we conducted a series of English interviews with people from different walks of life.

During the interviews, we first talked to an elderly Chinese gentleman named Mr. Zhang. He vividly described the Mid - Autumn Festival traditions from his childhood. In his memory, the festival was a time when the whole family would gather in the courtyard. They would set up a table filled with various fruits such as pomelos, grapes, and pomegranates, as well as mooncakes. Mooncakes, he explained, were the most iconic food of the festival. Each family member would sit around the table, looking up at the bright moon while ting and sharing the delicious mooncakes. Different regions in China have different flavors of mooncakes. In his hometown, the most popular ones were the Cantonese - style mooncakes with rich fillings like lotus seed paste and salted egg yolks. For him, the festival was all about family togetherness and the sense of belonging.

Next, we interviewed a young Chinese woman, Lily. Lily said that although she lived in a big city and had a busy work schedule, she always made an effort to celebrate the Mid - Autumn Festival. She mentioned that in modern times, the way of celebration has also evolved. Besides the traditional family gathering and moon - gazing, she and her friends often organized themed parties. They would decorate the party venue with red lanterns and paper cut - outs of the moon and raits, which are symbols of the festival. At these parties, they would play games related to the Mid - Autumn Festival, such as guessing riddles written on small pieces of paper attached to lanterns. And of course, there was always a wide selection of mooncakes for everyone to enjoy. She also added that she liked to take photos of the moon and share them on social media, using special filters to make the moon look even more beautiful. This way, she could also connect with friends who were far away and share the festival atmosphere with them.

We also spoke to a foreigner, David, who had been living in China for several years. David said that he was fascinated by the Mid - Autumn Festival. He first learned about it from his Chinese colleagues. He participated in a community event during the festival. There, he saw a lot of traditional performances. There were lion dances, which were very energetic and exciting. The performers skillfully controlled the lion - shaped costumes, making them look alive. He also watched a tea - ceremony demonstration. The host carefully prepared and brewed the tea, explaining the cultural significance behind each step. David tried making mooncakes himself under the guidance of local residents. He was surprised by how many steps were involved in making these small pastries. From kneading the dough to stuffing it with fillings and then shaping and baking it, it was a labor - intensive process. But the end result was very rewarding, and he felt a great sense of accomplishment when he held the freshly - made mooncake in his hand.

Another interesting perspective came from a teacher, Miss Wang. She said that in schools, the Mid - Autumn Festival was an important educational opportunity. She organized activities for her students to learn about the festival. They would have classroom discussions about the legends related to the Mid - Autumn Festival, such as the story of Chang'e flying to the moon. The students would then draw pictures based on these legends. Some of the pictures were very creative, with Chang'e wearing modern - style clothes or the moon having a spaceship landing on it. Miss Wang also led the students in making simple paper lanterns. They used colored paper, scissors, and glue to create their own unique lanterns. These activities not only helped the students understand the cultural heritage but also enhanced their creativity and practical skills.

In conclusion, the Mid - Autumn Festival is celebrated in various ways. Whether it is through traditional family gatherings, modern - style social media sharing, participation in community events, or educational activities in schools, this festival continues to be an important part of people's lives. It not only brings families and friends together but also serves as a bridge between different cultures, allowing both Chinese people and foreigners to experience and appreciate the rich cultural connotations of this ancient festival. As time goes on, the ways of celebration may change, but the essence of the Mid - Autumn Festival - family, reunion, and the pursuit of beauty - will always remain the same.