In western culture, we tend to have a negative view of full moons because they’re largely associated with werewolves or when all the crazies come out. Damn you, Twilight!
But all across Asia today, people are enjoying their full moon. It’s the annual Zhongqiu, or Mid-Autumn Festival, and it’s been celebrated in China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam for more than 3,000 years. Always falling on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, it occurs when the moon is its biggest and brightest.
People in Beijing are buying up traditional mooncakes, Taiwanese kids make paper origami and the International Red Cross is putting on a show with festive lanterns and fire dragons for impoverished children in Vietnam. How will you celebrate?
AP reports below:
Photo by Off to Varanasi, ???? ?????? via Flickr.