The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated today by Chinese communities in Malaysia and around the world. It is a special celebration where families and friends get together, enjoy mooncakes and admire the bright full moon.
Children also carry colourful lanterns in different shapes and designs.
Lanterns are seen as symbols of light, hope and togetherness. In the past, lanterns were carried at night to light the way. Today, children enjoy carrying them as part of the fun and tradition.
You may see children walking around the neighbourhood with lanterns shaped like animals, flowers, cartoon characters and even the moon. Some lanterns have little lights inside, while traditional ones may use candles.
Of course, no Mid-Autumn Festival is complete without mooncakes.
There are many types to try out. Cantonese mooncakes have a golden-brown crust while Teochew mooncakes are known for their flaky, layered pastry. Meanwhile, Shanghai mooncakes have a softer, buttery crust.
There are also fusion mooncakes in flavours such as chocolate, cheese and tropical fruits.
Some even have the taste of Malaysian favourites such as durian, cempedak and onde-onde!
Mooncakes also come in different styles. Besides the traditional baked mooncakes, there are also snowskin mooncakes, which have a soft, chewy skin that tastes a little like mochi. You can also find jelly mooncakes and ice cream mooncakes.
Here are the letters from Starchild readers on the topic, Mid-Autumn Festival.
Joan Chen Li Jun, 12, writes, “I will celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival with my family, friends and a few classmates at my house. My grandma and mum will be preparing a delicious dinner for everyone. After dinner, we plan to take a walk in a nearby park with our cute rabbit lanterns. I love mooncakes, especially snowskin mooncakes because they are soft, refreshing and delicious. We will have fun playing games, chatting and spending time together. I am really looking forward to having a happy and memorable evening with my family and friends.”
“My lantern is shaped like a white cat, which symbolises peace, love and good fortune. It also represents happiness, good luck and family unity. The cat is reading a book beside a candle, showing the importance of learning, wisdom and having a bright future. The red and gold colours make the lantern look festive and joyful,” says Nur Ameera Khairul Nizam, 12.
"It is a mythical rabbit from Chinese folklore that is said to live on the moon. It has a pair of signature pink ears and a pearl grey body with a white belly. Its white belly is where a candle burns and emits warm yellow light,” says Roxanne Ng Yee Shuen, 12.
“My favourite mooncakes are pandan-flavoured lotus paste mooncake and red bean paste mooncake. I like seeing colourful lanterns during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Hopefully, my parents will buy a colourful lantern for me this year,” says Maryam El-Haura Mohd Fakhruddin, six.
ITEM: What would you discover if you could explore the ocean?
Imagine an amazing underwater world filled with colourful fish, friendly sea creatures, mysterious caves and beautiful coral reefs. Would you meet a giant turtle, discover a sunken ship or find a secret underwater city?
Email your contributions to lifestyle@thestar.com.my by Oct 13. Please put “STARCHILD: Under the sea” in the subject line of your email.
Scanned drawings should be in jpeg format, with a resolution of 200dpi. Your contributions must carry your full name, age (open to children aged 12 and below only), gender, phone contact and address. Instead of handwritten letters, please type out your letters.
Starchild: Mid-Autumn Festival drawings
Joan Chen Li Jun, 12
Nur Ameera Khairul Nizam, 12
Roxanne Ng Yee Shuen, 12
Maryam El-Haura Mohd Fakhruddin, 6
Farrel Zafran Faihan, 9
Fathiahana Arissa Faihan, 11
