MOONCAKES OVER HONSBRIDGE
Lantern making competition
happened this week as the Honnets compete in making lanterns in time for the
Mid-Autumn Festival, aka the Mooncake Festival. Lanterns and mooncakes are part
of the Mid-Autumn Festival since centuries ago, that began in ancient China.
The
term ‘Mid-Autumn’ first appeared in the book the Rites of Zhou but as a time
and season. It became a popular festival during the Tang Dynasty as people use
the occasion to celebrate the bountiful harvest and to worship the moon.
Legend has it that Chang’E, the
Goddess of the Moon was once the wife of the great archer, Hou Yi, who shot
down nine suns with his arrows to save China and spared one sun to gave light.
Chang’E became Goddess after she swallowed an elixir of immortality, flew to
and lived on the moon. Hou Yi missed his wife so much that offered her
favourite fruits and cakes as offerings to the moon. Soon, people who were
sympathetic with Hou Yi, joined him to give offerings to Chang’E and from there
begun the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The Mid-Autumn Festivals isn’t complete without the delicious mooncakes. Everybody and his mom know why mooncakes are favoured during the Mid-Autumn Festival. But for those who aren’t in the know, the story of mooncakes began with the Mongol rule. During the Yuan Dynasty, Mongols have taken over China. The Han revolutionaries planned to overthrow the Mongols by sending secret messages to the people all over China by hiding them in mooncakes. The messages told the people to rebel against the Mongols on the Mid-Autumn Day. The people got the mooncakes, got the message and soon revolt. From then on, mooncakes became the celebrated cakes of China, and later the world over.
The Mid-Autumn Festival isn’t just celebrated by the Chinese from all over; it’s also celebrated by the Vietnamese. The Vietnamese festival is considered the happiest time for children, as in the early days, parents who harvest for living and have no time for their children, make full use of the festival to spend more time with the children. The Vietnamese celebrate the festival by worshipping the Earth, take part in lion dances and of course, carrying lanterns.
Which we transitioned back to the Honnets who are busy creating the lanterns.
Here we see the Honnets busy at making the most creative lanterns possible;
Here we see the Honnets busy at making the most creative lanterns possible;
The Honnets created the lanterns in various designs;
be it the traditional Chinese lantern or
Something cosmic or
just plain creative.
Eventually, the honor goes to Team Hulks, who won the competition with this unique, avant-garde Origami Bird’s Nest Lantern
Just your regular, average Honnets goofing around
The lantern-making competition aims to not only promote the Mid-Autumn Festival but also to inspire teamwork and unity among the Honnets; plus it’s fun!
