Zhong Qiu Jie (meaning ‘Mid-Autumn Festival’, also known as the Lantern Festival or Mooncake Festival) is a Chinese festival celebrated on the 15th day of the eight month of the Chinese lunar calendar (usually around mid-late September). According to one legend, the festival originated in the Yuan Dynasty (1280-1368) when Chinese rebels planned a revolt against the ruling Mongols by passing messages stuffed in round cakes. One of the festival’s traditions involves the eating of mooncakes, which are small pastries usually filled with egg yolk and sweet lotus paste. In addition, children usually play with Chinese lanterns as part of the festivities.
