Celebrating a Meaningful Mid-Autumn Festival Overseas!

This year seems to have flown by. Before we knew it, we've spent most of the year at home, and now the Mid-Autumn Festival is upon us again.

For those overseas - is this your first year studying alone in the U.S. with just your suitcase? Or have you been navigating multicultural workplaces for years? Perhaps you've put down roots abroad, starting families and careers? How many Mid-Autumn Festivals have you spent away from home? And did the pandemic prevent your planned return?

As China's second most important traditional holiday after Spring Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival is also called the Reunion Festival. The vision of blooming flowers, a full moon and family togetherness has been a cherished ideal in Chinese culture for millennia. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has made reunion particularly challenging this year...

"The same moon shines over the sea, we gaze at it though far apart." The 2020 Mid-Autumn Festival feels especially precious amid these difficulties.

This year's festival not only carries our cultural heritage forward but makes us cherish reunion all the more.

"Alone, a lonely stranger in a foreign land, I pine for my folks on every festive day." Though we have good friends abroad, they can't replace missing family. This year, the festival coincides with China's National Day holiday, creating an 8-day break and even more festive atmosphere back home.

Without an official holiday overseas, the festival spirit may feel diluted. But with the moon above, love in our hearts, and mooncakes in hand, we'll honor this tradition! The ceremonial aspects connect us to Chinese history and culture, giving overseas Chinese a sense of belonging and cultural roots.

Mid-Autumn Abroad: Same Longing, Different Celebrations

What comes to mind when you think of Mid-Autumn Festival?

Lantern riddles, decorative lanterns, lion dances, moon gazing, osmanthus wine, fireworks, Qiantang River tidal bore watching, and of course - the star of the show - mooncakes! Let's explore how to celebrate meaningfully abroad.

Lantern Riddles & Decorations
These have become children's activities. For diaspora families, lanterns aren't just toys but cultural vessels. Kids can buy or craft elaborate paper lanterns in Chinatowns to rival the moon's glow.

Sky Lanterns/Water Lanterns
Recently popular festival items, people write wishes on them before release, watching their hopes float skyward to become the night's brightest stars.

Chinatown Festivals
Though pandemic restrictions may limit gatherings, virtual celebrations still feature lion dances, Shaolin martial arts, talent shows, Sichuan face-changing acts, and traditional music performances.

Typically, Chinatowns host festive markets with performances, food stalls and community spirit - strangers bonded by shared culture.

The Grand Finale: Mooncakes!
No festival is complete without them! Originally offerings to the moon goddess, these round pastries now symbolize family unity. Some overseas Chinese employers even distribute them to all staff regardless of nationality.

During the pandemic, many have embraced homemade mooncakes for deeper participation and easier sharing with neighbors.

From lotus seed paste with egg yolk to five-nut, red bean, savory pork, snowskin, purple sweet potato, fruit and sesame varieties - which authentic hometown flavor is your favorite?

The Moon on the 16th

How many ABCs know the legends of Chang'e flying to the moon, Wu Gang cutting the osmanthus tree, or the Jade Rabbit pounding medicine? This stay-home festival is perfect for sharing these Eastern tales with children.

Do overseas-born Chinese still celebrate? "Absolutely!" These traditions provide meaningful anticipation. Whether making northern dumplings or southern tangyuan, regional differences don't change our shared cultural appetite. Sharing familiar foods under the bright moon creates unforgettable memories.

"I lift my head to gaze at the bright moon, then lower it thinking of home." This festival isn't just about reunion, but expressing longing across distances.

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