Discover everything you need to know about travel, shopping, upcoming events, and more in Malaysia.
Discover everything you need to know about travel, shopping, upcoming events, and more in Malaysia.
The mooncake festival is also referred to as The Mid-Autumn festival, it is typically celebrated to mark the end of the harvest season. Mainly, the Chinese people in Malaysia celebrate it with their families, eating delicious mooncakes, and children in lantern parades.
While, it is indeed a Chinese festival, people from all backgrounds can take part and enjoy this festival. It goes beyond cultural boundaries and provides an opportunity for people of different cultures to learn from each other. Let's take a look at why this festival is celebrated and what the Mooncake Festival 2024 has in store for you.
The festival has a lot of tales associated with it describing its origin and why people celebrate it. Among those, the most popular one is the mythical love story between Hou Yi and Chang’e.
It is believed that Hou Yi who was a remarkable archer shot down nine out of ten suns in the sky as people were suffering from intense heat. This earned him the elixir of immortality, however, he could not bring himself to take it as it would mean leaving his wife behind. The elixir was kept in his wife’s care, this information reached the ears of Hou Yi’s apprentice. He then broke into the house when Hou Yi was away from home, which caused Chang’e to take the elixir to protect it from falling into the wrong hands. As a result, she went to the moon leaving Hou Yi alone on earth. He offered cakes and her favorite fruits under the open moon, others also joined in which marked the origin of this festival.
In another historical tale, Chinese people were being tyrannized by the Mongols during the Soong dynasty. This caused their rebel leaders to lead a revolution against the Mongol overlords. However, it was impossible for the leaders to make plans as meetings were banned. As a result, Liu Fu Tong from Anhui Province came up with a creative plan to hide important messages within mooncakes reading “Rise against the Tartars on the 15th day of the 8th Moon”. Eventually, the rebellion was successful and the Ming dynasty was established. This marked the celebration of the Mid-Autmn Festival with mooncakes on a national scale.
This year, the mid-autumn festival is going to be celebrated on the 17th of September. Although, the activities can be different each year, here’s what you can expect;
Eat delicious mooncakes
These pastries shaped like a moon and with sweet and savory fillings are one of the main highlights of this festival. Traditionally, families of Chinese descent in Malaysia would make different types of hand-made mooncakes. However, today pre-made and packaged mooncakes can be bought easily. This allows visitors in Malaysia to relish delicious mooncakes with various designs and flavors from different vendors.
Take a tour of Penang for the festivities
Additionally, a vibrant experience of the mooncake festival awaits you at Penang. It is the food capital of Malaysia and is renowned for its architecture, food, and cultural heritage. During the mooncake festival, you can expect to see traditional dance performances, lantern displays, and cultural activities. Especially, the 'River of Lights' lantern parade in George Town at Penang must not be missed as it is a once-in-a-lifetime visual spectacle. There is also the traditional Chinese lion and dragon dance along with the Wushu Competition held at Straits Quay Square.
Visit the Thean Hou temple
It is a stunning temple in Kuala Lumpur dedicated to “Thean Hou”, the Queen of Heaven where the Mid-Autumn Festival Lantern Show is held each year. This temple becomes a key point of focus during the festival, with visitors taking part in festivities, traditional worship practices, and watching beautiful lantern displays. You can expect to see incense coils and a large number of devotees visit the temple. Not only that, you can also experience a panoramic view of KL. It is simply stunning especially when the lanterns light up the surroundings at night.
Visit the malls
During the festival, the malls in Kuala Lumpur transform into a festive hub. You can expect to see lots of different activities being held at The Mines Shopping Mall, Central Market, and IPC Shopping Center. Some also host moon-cake-making workshops, allowing people to indulge deeply in the tradition of this festival. A combination of entertainment, festive ambiance, and shopping makes it a must-visit in the Mooncake Festival.
Mooncake festival in Malaysia is a joyous occasion that is filled with cultural experiences, exchanges, and delicious foods. If you are visiting Malaysia in September, the above-mentioned activities must not be missed. It will enrich your understanding of the country’s vibrant traditions and heritages.