By Khalida Sarwari
If you love Thanksgiving but can’t wait another two months, gather your friends and family and celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. The time-honored Chinese holiday that marks the end of the summer harvest takes place in Saratoga on Sept. 27.
The afternoon will include an exhibit, a lecture, live entertainment and arts and crafts for kids. Attendees can also expect to hear a few musicians, participate in a story hour and see calligraphy, sugar painting and folk art demonstrations.
According to Saratoga Historical Foundation president Annette Stransky, the exhibit, titled “Chinese and the Iron Road: Building the Transcontinental Railroad,” provides an historical overview of the Chinese railroad workers who were instrumental in building the United States’ first transcontinental railroad. Andrea Yee, a descendent of one of the railroad workers, will speak about her grandfather’s experience working on the railroad.
“We are very happy to help bring this important festival to Saratoga again,” Stransky said.
Produced by the Silicon Valley chapter of the Organization of Chinese American Women, the festival is aimed at people of all ages, said Carol Yuan, chapter president. The organization held this event in Saratoga for the first time last year.
On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the moon is supposed to be the brightest and fullest, which is why it is also known as the Moon Festival. This year, the full moon is expected to be on Sept. 28.
When watching the full moon, those who observe this holiday traditionally eat mooncakes, which are very rich, typically filled with either lotus seed, red bean or black bean paste and cut into pieces. They are a significant part of celebrating the festival throughout China, where a full moon is a symbol of family unity. Mooncakes are also given as gifts to friends and relatives.
The festival has been celebrated by the Chinese and Vietnamese every fall for more than 1,000 years, dating back to the Shang Dynasty. Traditionally, those who participate in the festival gather their family and friends to give thanks for the summer harvest and pray for whatever their heart desires.
Saratogans and their friends will have a chance to do that on Sept. 27 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. at the Saratoga History Museum, at 20450 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road.
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