Moon Festival: Cherished Traditions & Legends. Episode: 1824, Air Date: 12 September 2011. Greetings, brilliant viewers! Moon Festival, sometimes called Mid-Autumn Festival, is one of the major holidays joyously celebrated by people of Asian ancestry and their good friends. It takes place on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, when the moon is at its fullest and most radiant. It is a time for the family to come together in the spirit of grace, gladness, and appreciation of life's tender gifts. Many traditions and legends are associated with the Moon Festival. One of the customs is moon gazing. In fact, the moon and her beauty have fascinated and inspired humanity since time immemorial. The moon, romantic and mysterious, is the Earth's satellite, playing a vital practical role in maintaining the Earth's position, climate, and tides. The cycles of the moon are said to be related to the growth and decline of plants, animals, and human lives. The moon is also closely connected to spiritual life in various cultures. Some societies believe that the rays of the moon have the power of healing and purification. In Egypt, the moon-god Thoth represents wisdom and justice. The Hindu deity Shiva is adorned with a crescent moon, signifying his perfect mastery of the mind. In Buddhism, the Wheel of Rebirth often depicts Shakyamuni Buddha pointing to the moon, which symbolizes enlightened Nature. In an international gathering with our Association members in October 2007, Supreme Master Ching Hai revealed that the moon is actually a living being. One night, when I first came back from America to Spain in that house, and it was the moon light When it's the moon light, I like to watch; so I come out and watch it. Suddenly all the seagulls waken from their sleep and come out, flying around and singing and dancing all over the place. And the Moon keeps smiling at me, many hours long. Really the face of a smiling person, and my assistant said, "Oh my God. Look at that, Master. Look at that." Many hours we sit there and it keeps smiling at us. We were in a mountain and next to the river. Then we were singing with guitar, mandolin, and all kind of things that we had there. Whatever we had, singing. The moon just stood still, really, for many hours, as long as we were there. The moon is really alive, I am telling you, and if you love it, it will respond. I mean must have love inside, truly love. I love the moon so much. The tradition of celebrating the Moon Festival dates back to the time of the Tang Dynasty in China. According to ancient manuscripts, on the eve of the 15th day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar, a Taoist priest named Luo Gongyuan saw that the emperor was mesmerized by the moon's beauty. He offered to take the emperor to the moon with his magic power. Upon arriving at the Moon Palace, the emperor was welcomed by the Moon Goddess who prepared a banquet and entertainment. There, he saw hundreds of fairies dancing to heavenly music. When he returned to Earth, the emperor made the Moon Festival a national celebration in China in remembrance of the wonder-filled experience. There are many other enchanting legends regarding the Moon Festival, such as one about the Moon Goddess. Long ago, the Moon Goddess was a graceful and loving fairy living on the moon. At one time, the Moon Goddess had incarnated into our world to save others. After many trials and tribulations, she met the Quan Yin Bodhisattva, who gave her a magic pill. She eventually triumphed in her endeavor to save suffering beings, but lost her life in the process. Touched by her noble sacrifice, God made her the Moon Goddess, and since then she has presided over the magnificent Moon Palace. In China, the Moon Festival is celebrated with dances and moon gazing. People also enjoy tea and mooncakes with relatives and friends. According to Chinese legend, a beautiful lady named Chang'e resides with the Jade Rabbit in the Moon Palace. It is said that Chang'e, an Earthling, took the elixir of immortality, flew to the moon and became the goddess in that realm. The Moon Festival is also observed in Formosa (Taiwan) and the Chinese communities of other Asian countries, such as Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines. In Malaysia, the Mooncake Festival is celebrated with the eating of mooncakes and round fruits that symbolize fullness and family harmony. Lantern processions are joined by children and adults alike. In Hong Kong, the festival is marked by a Fire Dragon Dance where a 220-foot long Fire Dragon is carried through the village of Tai Hang. People perform the Fire Dragon Dance and light firecrackers for health and peace. Japan also celebrates Moon Festival, calling it "Jugoya," meaning "night of the full moon." In observance of the harvest moon, as it is sometimes called, families nowadays make susuki, or pa

Posted by Living Empowered® on December 11, 2011 at 3:21 AM

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