Some friends came for dinner and brought a Chinese Moon Cake. I had never heard of Mooncake. They are a Chinese pastry eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival. This is the second most important day in the Chinese calendar, next to Chinese New Year. It is a legal holiday in many Asian countries. It is celebrated the 15th day of the 8th month in the Chinese calendar, which is mid-September on our Gregorian calendar. Farmers celebrate the end of their harvest. Families gather and share small cakes together, and admire the full moon. Everyone gets just a little piece.
My friend is Chinese. She grew up eating moon cakes. She warned us not to expect a sweet Western type pastry. The Chinese characters for "longevity" and "harmony" decorate the top. Inside, the cake was made of red bean paste and in the center was a yolk. That's the yellow thing in the center.
The Mooncake had a unique flavor. It was really dense and heavy. I am so appreciative that my friend brought such a thoughtful treat! Hubby and I both are fascinated by customs from other cultures!
How about you? Have you learned something new about a different culture?
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