Mooncake in Shanghai 2024

A mooncake is a traditional Chinese bakery product enjoyed during the Mid-Autumn Festival. While various legends describe their symbolic significance, mooncakes are universally central to the festival’s celebrations.

Mooncakes

Mooncakes come in various types both within China and in overseas Chinese communities. The Cantonese mooncake is the most renowned variety. Traditionally, it is a round pastry about 10 cm (4 in) in diameter and 3–4 cm (1¼–1½ in) thick, with a rich filling, typically made from lotus seed paste, red bean paste, or mixed nuts. The filling is encased in a thin crust, around 2–3 mm (approximately 1/8 inch) thick, and may include salted duck egg yolks. Today, mooncakes are available in an extensive array of flavors, making it nearly impossible to list them all. The most popular fillings include lotus seeds, date paste, and sweet bean paste, with varieties ranging from sweet to salty, savory, and even spicy.

Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, has its origins in the Zhou Dynasty (1046 - 256 BC). Celebrated annually on the 15th day of the 8th month according to the Chinese lunar calendar, families come together to offer sacrifices to the moon. Traditionally, it is believed that the moon’s movement affects seasonal changes, agricultural yields, peace, and family reunions. During the festival, people traditionally set up outdoor tables to enjoy mooncakes, fruits, and reunion wine under the moonlit sky.

History of Mooncake

The Mid-Autumn Festival, linked to the legend of Chang'e, the Moon Goddess, is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. Known as "Night of the Moon," the festival features mooncakes, which are so central that the event is often called the 'Mooncake Festival.' During the Ming Revolution, mooncakes were used to coordinate the overthrow of the Yuan dynasty secretly. Messages hidden inside the mooncakes instructed rebels to act on the festival's night, using ingenious methods to keep their plans secret.