Often referred to as the Moon Festival or the Mooncake Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival is an expression of families and communities coming together to give thanks for the local crop harvest following the summer season.

You can think of it as a Chinese Thanksgiving because you bet there’s a feast involved.

Since ancient times, the Chinese have been celebrating family with lanterns, mooncakes, worshipping and appreciating the moon, indulging in osmanthus, and so much in between.

Held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar, when the moon is at its fullest and brightest, it’s the second most grand festival after the Chinese New Year.

Celebrations take place across East Asia, in countries including: China, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and across the world.

Legend has it, goddess Chang’e ascended to the heavens and made the moon her home after she drank a magic elixir that gave her eternal life.

Another story says that Chinese emperors in the Zhou dynasty (1045-221 BC) worshipped the moon in autumn to bring an abundant harvest the following year.