VICTORIA, Seychelles — The magic of the mid-autumn festival, a celebration that falls on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese Lunar Calendar, lit up the Chinese Culture Centre (Pagoda) on the evening of October 4, with the Confucius Institute at UniSey and the 20th China Medical Team co-hosting a gathering with friends from the community.
Mid-autumn is a deeply rooted festival, traditionally a time for the Chinese people to give thanks for a bountiful harvest, gaze at the full moon, and pray for good fortune. Most beautifully, it is the quintessential occasion for family reunion, a precious moment to celebrate togetherness, symbolised by the perfect circle of the moon. Among those present were Chairperson Rose-Mary Lee-Bluemner and members of the Chinese Association of Seychelles, Chairman Vincent Meriton and members of the Association for the Promotion of Friendship between Seychelles and China, and learners from the Confucius Institute.
Jianmei Zhang, the Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute, shared the tale of the festival’s origins, including the famous legend of Chang’e flying to the moon, and explained the customs of moon-gazing and sharing mooncakes. Her presentation conveyed the core message of ‘reunion under the full moon,’ emphasising the festival’s profound cultural meaning of family unity, harmony and shared joy.
The event featured four interactive sections: a tea-tasting session with chrysanthemum, goji berry and red date infusions; a sachet-making workshop blending mugwort, mint, cinnamon and lemongrass; an acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine talk by Dr Yiming Jiang of the China Medical Team; and a hanfu and cheongsam showcase. As the ancient Chinese saying goes, ‘Though thousands of miles apart, we share the beauty of the same moon.’
