Mooncakes: A Tasty and Beautiful Heritage
The Mid Autumn Moon Festival is celebrated in many cultures across Asia in September. Originating in the Zhou Dynasty (1045-221) ancient Chinese emperors dedicated this festival to the moon in the hopes of receiving a bountiful harvest in the coming year. A very important aspect of this harvest community event is the making and eating of Mooncakes. The tradition of eating mooncakes during the festival began in the Yuan Dynasty (1279 – 1368), a dynasty ruled by the Mongols.
The making and eating of mooncakes together symbolizes unity and enhances the traditional purpose of the Mid-Autumn Festival which is gathering as a family.
In China, Mooncakes are traditionally filled with sweet-bean paste, egg yolk, or lotus seed paste, and surrounded by a thin layer of dough. They are usually about 10cm in diameter.
Mooncakes are given to coworkers, friends, and family members as gifts around Mid-Autumn. They are difficult to make, and elaborate molds are used to achieve the intricate patterned designs on their surfaces.
VISITORS ENJOYING MOONCAKES AT OUR MID-AUTUMN MOON FAMILY DAY HELD AT ALL SAINTS PARISH HALL IN SEPTEMBER 2019.
There are many cultural variants of the Mooncake and these variants can contain nuts, seeds and other ingredients that are native to each region. Modern versions of mooncakes can be made of jelly, fruit, vegetables and even ice cream.
Snow skin mooncakes, just one type that is popular in Vietnam, are also known as ice skin mooncakes or crystal mooncakes and make a beautiful non-baked treat for Mid-Autumn Festival. The delicate white shell gives them a snowy appearance, hence the name. With a little bit of food coloring they also take on lovely pastel colours.
With a rich tradition and so much variety and beauty, mooncakes combine the magic of legend with the grounding comfort of food and family. Happy Mid-Autumn Moon to everyone who celebrates from Coquitlam Heritage.
For more information about Mooncakes visit these resources:
Moon – Cake The Specialty of the Mid-Autumn Festival
Origin and Brief History of the Moon Cake
Red Bean Moon Cake Recipe video