The Oamaru Chinese Association will celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival tomorrow, one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture.
Also known as the Mooncake Festival or the Moon Festival, it is a celebration of the harvest in Chinese culture, traditionally on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar, with a full moon at night.
Association president Janice Burnett said the festival date landed on September 17 this year, so the association chose the closest Saturday.
They will celebrate with a pot luck tea at the Fenwick School Hall. Special activities start from 6pm.
"Just celebrating good food, good company, everyone joining together having fun, really," Mrs Burnett said.
Mooncakes, a rich pastry typically filled with sweet-bean, egg yolk, lotus-seed paste, or meat, are traditionally eaten during the festival.
The association will provide mooncakes, made by the Christchurch Chinese Association, along with roast pork, chicken and duck.
The festival, which dates back over 3000 years, is similar to festivals celebrated across East and Southeast Asia.
It was a time for inclusivity, Mrs Burnett said.
"I like how we get together as an association and we meet other people and it’s about friendship. It’s not just about the Chinese. We run this festival, but we’re open to everyone to come.
"Seriously, it’s about food, friendship, meeting new people and even teaching other people about traditions within our culture."
Tomorrow night will include a Qigong demonstration by instructor Sarah Liu, and Chinese calligraphy by Song Chen.
Musical entertainment and a mini lion dance demonstration will also be part of festitivies.
Mrs Burnett said the association had its own lion, although a professional Lion Dance troop from Christchurch would perform at the Scottish Hall on October 5.
She praised secretary Sandra Tonkin who was co-ordinating the festival with her.
"She’s amazing ... I have an amazing team."
