Chinese Club Hosts Mid-Autumn Festival

Students enjoyed a taste of Chinese culture and foods at the Mid-Autumn Festival. Photo Credit / Pat McGee Students enjoyed a taste of Chinese culture and foods at the Mid-Autumn Festival. Photo Credit / Pat McGee
Students enjoyed a taste of Chinese culture and foods at the Mid-Autumn Festival. Photo Credit / Pat McGee
Students enjoyed a taste of Chinese culture and foods at the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Photo Credit / Pat McGee

By Pat McGee
Contributing Writer

Mid-Autumn Festival hosted by the ESU Chinese club.

Located in Lower Dansbury, members of the community came and enjoyed delicious food while appreciating Chinese hospitality.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, called “Zhong-Qiu-Jie,” has been a long tradition of China, its roots stemming back to the Shang Dynasty (1750 B.C.).

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a tradition centered around the moon, which symbolizes peace, prosperity and family.

The time of the year this Festival occurs is typically the time of the year when the moon is at its biggest and brightest in the sky.

The festival here at ESU was celebrated very similarly to how it’s celebrated in China.

Many students and teachers came together to show their appreciation for Chinese culture, sharing it with their family and friends, and enjoying mooncake.

Zuqing Li, President of the ESU Chinese Club, expressed his gratitude and best wishes, introducing the Chinese Club and its members, including ESU professor Dongsheng Che, the adviser of the Chinese Club.

Jiayi Xu, the secretary of Chinese Club, gave a presentation of the wonderful history behind the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, educating everyone about the meaning behind it. Afterward, students participating in Chinese courses sang “duibuqi, wo de zhongwen bu hao,” translated to “Sorry, my Chinese is bad!” showcasing their passion and appreciation of Chinese culture.

After the presentations, wonderful Chinese food was served, along with the traditional moon-cake, an iconic Chinese pastry.

As someone raised in rural Pennsylvania, learning about Chinese language and culture under the ESU Chinese minor program has been a unique experience. Learning about a culture much different from your own really adds perspective to your worldview, and an appreciation for things you otherwise never would have explored.

Learning Chinese language also helped me become much more articulate with my English. My favorite thing about Mid-Autumn are the mooncakes, as it is my top favorite Chinese pastry, and of course seeing the moon shining so brightly.

Overall, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a wonderful celebration of culture at ESU, and is certainly an on-campus event to be appreciated.

Email Pat at:
pmcgee@live.esu.edu