Mooncake Festival; Is the Significance Lost Forever?
By kevchua
@kevchua (1004)
Malaysia
October 4, 2009 8:52am CST
Moon Cake Festival is also known as Mid-autumn Festival. Years ago when I was a kid, I used to carry lighted lanterns accompanied by my mom and my neighbours, and we walked around the block, joined by others along the way. It was a beautiful event, and I remember burning a few lanterns. Nowadays, lanterns are lit by bulbs and they are made of plastic, unlike those days when all lanterns were made from paper with drawings or patterns on them. We all ate moon cakes which were sold about a month prior to the festival.
Nowadays, with moon cakes being sold all year round, and lanterns that get more "sophisticated" with music and blinking lights, do you think that the significance of this festival is somewhat lost? Give us your opinion.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
4 Oct 09
Dear Kev,
At Jusco One Utama (not so sure about this year) always have
Mid Autumn Festival celebration every year. It will gather about
200 children (anyonw can sign up for kids below 12 years old)
for this occasion. Everyone will be given the traditional paper
lantern with candle litted up. A cultural Lion Dance was there too
to lead this parade around One Utama Jusco (old wing). After that,
they have free refreshment too and some goodie bag for participants.
Cultural performance to add more cheers. Btw, everyone are served with
the delicious mooncake too.
Some of the housing developer also have this celebration..at their park!
I totally agree with you. With the latest commercialise lantern, this 'feel'
seems 'lost'. Just like the enjoyment and anticipation for durian season
when we were young. Nowadays, durian is available almost whole year round!
1 person likes this
@kevchua (1004)
• Malaysia
5 Oct 09
Shopping centres celebrate every festival (major and minor ones). Their main purpose is to attract customers or else they'd be lifeless. Of course they're there to "educate" visitors on the different cultures, too. But why does it take a shopping centre to celebrate festivals for us? What happened to the community within each residential area? Aren't they doing anything?
You'll also probably noticed that moon cakes and dumplings are available all year round. By right, these two delicacies should only be available close to the festival day.
Commercialisation will eventually kill the significance of all festivals - Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, Deepavali and Christmas - in time to come. It has actually begun.
@submerryn (1304)
• Malaysia
5 Oct 09
As a mother of a toddler, I'm guilty of not making an effort to uphold this tradition. I did let him have a try on the lanterns lit by candles but he went and touch the wax and eventually burnt his palm. So I am considering to let him grow a little before really introducing flame to him.
In my neighbourhood, I have noticed for the second year round, we celebrated the Mid Autumn Festival with a bang. There is this huge field nearby and everyone are welcome to come sample mooncakes. Lanterns are given out free to children and you can see them happily parading around with it. It's just some simple get together organised by the neighbourhood committee for the commitee. It's rare but once held, is nice!
But of course, there is hardly an event where you can just accompany your child around the neighbourhood with a lantern, hoping for others to join you without invitation. For that to happen these days, takes some miracle and wishful thinking...
@submerryn (1304)
• Malaysia
6 Oct 09
Typo in the second paragraph. It was suppose to be 'organised by the neighbourhood committee for the COMMUNITY.'
@cwong77 (2010)
• Malaysia
10 Oct 09
hi Kev, me too noticed the change of trend recently with the child. Well, I am not that concern on those battery operated lanterns and others, but more concern on the tradition of celebrating this eventful day.
Most kids will know that the festive is a celebration, however may not know the actual story behind this day. The history for such a festive lost by itself, since most parents don't really explain to their child this story any more.
As it's still a fun day for the child, I believe this tradition will go on by it's own, with modern invented lanterns and stuff.
