Legend and Origin of Mid Autumn Festival - The Love Story, Chang Er & Hou Yi

A beautiful lady named Chang Er who was married to the Heavenly Archer Hou Yi who is Famous being Saving the Earth from the 10 Suns that Scorched the earth.
One time, after they built a Big New Jade Palace for the Queen Mother of the West, the Queen Mother rewarded Houyi with a pill that granted Eternal Life but he can’t eat it right away. It has very Strong Magic, so he has to wait 1 year and eat special foods and sit quietly (fast and meditate) to get the body ready for the Magic.
The husband took the pill home and told his wife. Then he put it in a secret hiding place until they were ready to eat it. But few days later, the wife wanted to take a closer look at the Magic Pill, so she took the box out from its hiding place and found it was so beautiful. It was like a Pearl, Glowing White from the inside with a Rainbow of Color Shimmering just under the Surface, and it smelled like Peaches.

Then the husband returned home but the wife cheated on him by quickly swallowed the Magic Pill. Her body suddenly felt weightless, and it began to glow with a bright light and she started to rise up into the air.

The window was open and she floated out the window. The husband couldn’t reach her, but he saw her pet, Jade Rabbit, sitting on the porch looking up at her, and he tossed the rabbit up to her so that she wouldn’t be all alone wherever she was going. She caught Jade Rabbit in her arms and floated up up to the moon, where she lives until this day in the Cold Palace of the Moon.

The husband could not accept the Misfortune but to Overburdened with Grief, he looked up at the Sky and called out the Name of his Beloved Wife. He noticed that the Moon was unusually Bright and Clear that Night and on it there was a Swaying Shadow that resembled his wife. He tried to chase the Moon but the Moon eluded him.
The husband began to miss his Wife terribly. He had an incense table arranged in the back Garden and put fresh fruits and sweet meats on it, that Chang E loved and held a Memorial Ceremony for her.

When people heard that Chang E has transformed into a Celestial Being, they made arrangements for incense table in the moonlight and prayed to her for good fortune and peace. This is how the custom of worshipping the moon became popular among the people.

Today Couples declare their Undying Love for Each Other under the Full Moon of this Mid Autumn day. 

Estranged lovers pray for their reunion.
People say that when the moon is full, you can see them there....
The Jade Rabbit is busy pounding a New Elixir of Immortality. And on the Night of the Moon Festival, you can look up at her on the Moon and ask Chang Er for a secret wish….
Here is a song for everyone swimming in the love..."Eternal Flame", xx

Text > Polly

Legend and Origin of Mid Autumn Festival - Moon Cake

Moon Cake - People enjoyed and worshipped the full moon. 

In the Southern Song Dynasty, people started making round Moon Cakes, as gifts to their relatives as an Expression of their Best Wishes for a Family Reunion. At night, they came out to watch the Full Moon to Celebrate the Festival.

BUT China was ruled by the Mongolian people during the Yuan Dynasty. Leaders from the preceding Sung dynasty were unhappy at submitting to Foreign Rule, and set to coordinate a Secret Rebellion. As the Moon Festival was drawing near, the leaders of the rebellion ordered the making of special cakes.
At the back of each was a message with the outline of the attack. On the night of the Moon Festival, the rebels successfully attacked and overthrew the government. What followed was the establishment of the Ming dynasty. Today, moon cakes are eaten to commemorate this legend.

Text > Polly

Photos > Cool Jenny

Legend and Origin of Mid Autumn Festival - Rabbit

Rabbit - According to the Legend of the "Jade Rabbit", 3 Fairy Sages transformed themselves into Pitiful Old Men and begged to eat something from the Fox, a Rabbit and the Monkey. The Fox and the Monkey both had Food to give to the Old Men, but the Rabbit who had Nothing to Offer, offered his own Flesh instead, jumping into a Blazing Fire to cook himself. The Sages were so touched by the Rabbit's Sacrifice that they allowed him live in the Moon Palace where he became the "Jade Rabbit."

Text > Polly

Photos  > Cool Jenny

Legend and Origin of Mid Autumn Festival - Worship the Moon

Worship the Moon - It falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, a date that parallels the Autumn Equinox of the solar calendar. On this day the moon is unusually bright, clear and round. This is the perfect time to watch and worship of the moon. It is one of the two most important holidays in the Chinese calendar, the other being the Chinese Lunar New Year, and is a legal holiday in several countries.

Text > Polly

Special Thanks > Polly