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Being a school that includes Chinese language as part of our scholastic curricula, at Chatterbox we like to celebrate traditional Chinese festivities so that our children can get to know more about different cultures. The Mid-Autumn Festival, also called Moon Festival, is one of them. 

It is celebrated in China every year on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese Lunar calendar (which corresponds to mid-September to beginning of October in the Gregorian calendar). On this night the moon is full and it marks the beginning of a new harvest time, which is the main reason why Chinese people celebrate: give thanks for the past harvest and pray for the new one. 

During this festival in China streets and houses are decorated with lanterns of all size and shape, which should, symbolically, lighten people’s path and bring them good fortune. For the Moon Festival Chinese people like to make and eat mooncakes, a pastry usually filled with sweet bean, egg yolk or meat. 

How do we explain this festival to our children?

Normally teachers would show pictures and videos to the classes to show the typical celebrations and then would prepare hands-on activities to put into practice what the children saw. One activity that children really enjoy is making mooncakes using playdough!

This fun activity helps the students to consolidate their understanding of a different culture whilst also supporting their fine motor skills. Other examples of activities are: paper lanterns making, pretend play using Chinese play food and so on.

Did you know about the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival?
It’s always fascinating to get to know the many beautiful cultures of the world!