moon festival basics
The festival coincides with which phase of the moon?
The full moon
What major value drives people to travel long distances before the festival?
Family reunion—many try to return home to celebrate together
Which master archer is famed for shooting down nine of the ten suns?
Hou Yi
What is the traditional name of the moon palace where Chang’e resides?
The Guanghan Palace (广寒宫)
On which day of the lunar calendar is the Moon Festival traditionally celebrated?
The 15th day of the 8th lunar month.
Why does the Moon Festival fall on a different Gregorian date each year?
It follows the lunar calendar
In the best-known Mid-Autumn tale, who becomes the moon goddess after taking the elixir of immortality?
chang'e
In many tellings, who grants Hou Yi the elixir that ultimately leads to Chang’e’s ascent?
The Queen Mother of the West (王母娘娘, Wangmu Niangniang)
In many pastries, the salted egg yolk is included for symbolism. What does it represent?
The bright full moon
Name one community activity that towns or campuses organize for the festival
Lantern walks/displays (also acceptable: public moon-viewing events, lion dances in some regions)
Folklore says a companion lives on the moon pounding the elixir of life with a mortar and pestle. Who/what is it?
The Jade Rabbit (Moon Rabbit).
Across East Asia, the moon rabbit’s job changes: what is it pounding instead of an immortality elixir?
Rice cakes—mochi (Japan) or tteok (Korea).
Name one seasonal fruit commonly served during the festival for good luck
pomelo, or grapefruit
Why are mooncakes typically cut into wedges and shared instead of eaten whole by one person?
Sharing wedges symbolizes everyone having a piece of the whole—i.e., reunion and completeness.
This woodcutter is punished to chop an unchoppable tree on the moon forever—name him and the tree
Wu Gang and the osmanthus (桂花) tree.
Why is Wu Gang condemned to chop the same tree forever on the moon?
He offended the immortals/ sought immortality without discipline, so he’s punished to hew a self-healing osmanthus tree endlessly.
Some places add a puzzle element to the night using slips of paper—what festival mini-game is this?
lantern riddles
Outside mainland China, name one place known for notable Mid-Autumn celebrations
Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan
Many legends explain round foods at Mid-Autumn. What deeper idea do these circular shapes encode in the mythic context?
Wholeness, reunion, and cyclical harmony
In the classic Mid-Autumn tale, who is Chang’e’s husband before she ascends to the moon?
Hou Yi