The Awareness of Roots in Chinese Culture (ARCC) and Singaporean Students Association (SSA) organized a special program in honor of the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, last Friday in the University Center. Both students of Asian descent and students curious about Chinese culture gathered to see the celebration.

The actual date of the Mid-Autumn Festival was on Sunday, September 18, as it always falls on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar because that is the time of the year the moon is the brightest and largest.

The gathering included a skit that told one of the stories surrounding the Moon Festival. Between the years of 1280 and 1368, China was under Mongolian rule. The Chinese were unhappy with having to submit to foreigners and wanted to start a rebellion without having the Mongolians discover their plans. Because the night of the Moon Festival was arriving, the leaders of the rebellion demanded special cakes to be made. In these moon cakes, they placed hidden messages that gave instructions on the attack. On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the rebels overthrew the Mongolian government, and ever since then, Chinese families have commemorated the occasion by eating moon cakes and gazing at the moon together.

ARCC and SSA included other Chinese traditions in their Mid-Autumn Festival such as the lion dance, dances choreographed in the classical Chinese style, a skit, a song, and a martial arts demonstration. All the attendees enjoyed milk tea and moon cakes.

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One of the many traditional Chinese performances at the Mid-Autumn Festival was the lion dance.	A cheery sign greets the Mid-Autumn Festival attendees.
ARCC and SSA prepare the stage floor before the Mid-Autumn Festival begins.	A group of girls dance in traditional Chinese fashion during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Dancing to Chinese music, this girl and her peers entertain a crowd at the Mid-Autumn Festival.	At the conclusion of the Mid-Autumn Festival performances, attendees rush to get a slice of moon cake.
Moon cakes were enjoyed by those who attended the Mid-Autumn Festival.	Chinese caligraphy bookmarks were on sale at the Mid-Autumn Festival. Proceeds benefited Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

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