The Mid Autumn Festival

Night falls and the mirror moon illumes the heavenly starry skies with gleaming ivory beams. Shiny and mellow, a splendrous silver orb, the delight of the night sky! It is the evening of the 15th, and the cool air is fair, filled with chirping crickets and reason for revelry. Kinfolk gather to rejoice within the warmth of their hearth, toasting with mulled wine ; munching moon cakes! But today is also sacred and solemn, and offerings must be made to Heaven and Earth. Thus, scented sandalwood incense are lit ; apricots and pomelos are placed upon lacquer plates before the plaques of divine gods, and dear ancestors. Away from laughter and lanterns, besides a quiet lake, and under a lofty peak, sits a sagacious couple. She smiles and plays the guqin, sending with each skillful stroke, soft and serene sounds that grace the ethereal night's air. As for him, he stands pleased under the pavilion, inhaling the sweet scents of blooming peach blossoms, and admiring the moon as it rose and the beauty of his wife before the bright shimmer of moonlight. Content, he recites a poem: “The moon is luminous, Heaven is harmonious, Autumn has come, And Summer is gone, I toast my cassia wine, To a harvest most fine!” All rights released into Public Domain