One of the ancient festivals of Chinese culture that Thai people and people around the world know well, and whose delicious festive dessert everyone enjoys, is the “Mid-Autumn Festival.” This festival has both romantic legends and fierce stories filled with patriotic blood that many people may not have known before. What people usually know is only the excellent taste of mooncakes, which, day by day, various shops compete to design in appearance and develop by using high-quality ingredients, until they have become one of the luxurious edible gifts that make the giver proud and please the receiver.
The period of the Mid-Autumn Festival is the 15th day of the 8th month according to the Chinese calendar. It is the middle of autumn in China and is considered the day when the moon is most beautiful. It is regarded as a good sign of harmony, love, and unity within the family and among groups. This year, it falls on October 4, 2017. Those who firmly hold on to traditional customs will set up an altar table, offer worship, give mooncakes as gifts to people they respect and love, and share the mooncakes among relatives.
Although the origin of this festival is not clear, there are two sides to the stories that have been told. In the aspect related to the history of Chinese governance, it is said that the mooncake was made by Chinese rebels who had been under Mongol occupation for more than 80 years. It was made to communicate and hide secrets in the rebellion to save the nation. The stirring message setting an appointment, “15th day of the 8th month, kill the Mongols,” invited patriotic people to rise up and fight against the invaders. It was sent inside mooncakes, resulting in a large gathering on the full moon night of the 8th month to jointly defeat the Mongol soldiers completely. The Mid-Autumn Festival has therefore become one of the important days in Chinese culture up to the present.
As for the romantic legend, it is a myth that tells of love ending in separation between the goddess Chang’e and the heroic archer named Hou Yi. The reasons for the separation of this pair of lovers differ across many versions of the story, but they share the same conclusion: Chang’e, the wife, chose to sacrifice herself for her husband. However, that sacrifice caused her and Hou Yi to be separated for life. Chang’e’s body floated to the moon and she lived there immortally as a deity. Hou Yi, who lost his wife, and all people would see Chang’e’s shadow on the moon only on the full moon night of the 8th month. Therefore, performing a ceremony to worship the moon on the night of the 15th day of the 8th month every year means more than showing respect to the goddess Chang’e on the moon. It is also a symbol of the reunion and togetherness of family members.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is about bringing auspiciousness into life, and mooncakes are desserts with auspicious meaning. Giving mooncakes to respected and loved ones, close relatives, and friends is therefore an expression of goodwill. Nowadays, the appearance, packaging, and taste of mooncakes have been continuously developed until they look very luxurious and beautiful, especially those from various five-star hotels. We have therefore selected the mooncakes with the most outstanding designs of this year for you to view.
Mooncakes from Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel
Mooncakes from Plaza Athénée Bangkok Hotel
Mooncakes from Banyan Tree Bangkok Hotel
Mooncakes from Centara Grand at CentralWorld Hotel
Mooncakes from Conrad Bangkok Hotel
Mooncakes from Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel
Mooncakes from Shangri-La Bangkok Hotel
Mooncakes from The Okura Prestige Bangkok Hotel
If anyone wants to taste them or buy them as gifts for respected and loved ones, you can look for them according to the details of each place. Although the prices may be higher than the general market, with their excellent appearance and taste, they should make the receiver feel quite delighted.
------------------------------------------
Explore more details about single detached homes, townhomes, home offices, and condominiums at:
Website : www.realasset.co.th
Facebook : www.facebook.com/RealAssetDevelopment
Instagram : www.instagram.com/realasset.development/
LINE@ : @realasset
Call Center : 1232
