The ACU Chinese Students’ and Scholars’ Association had their mid-autumn festival on Saturday. Attendance at the festival this year was higher than anticipated.

The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival is the day when families get together for a reunion dinner. According to the Chinese Lunar Calendar, on August 15 the moon is full, and is therefore a symbol of unity.

Some of the typical food that is eaten at mid-autumn festivals are mooncakes, pumpkin, river snails, taro and duck. In the center of a mooncake is yolk, to symbolize the full moon.

Janice Chong, junior advertising and public relations major from Shanghai, China, participated in the festival.

“After dinner, families will sit together and catch up while also admiring the moon and eating mooncakes,” Chong said. “The American Thanksgiving can be an analogy to this festival. The Mid-Autumn Festival celebrates three fundamental concepts: gathering, thanksgiving and praying. The mooncake can be understood as the ‘turkey.'”

Chong said she considered this year’s festival a successful celebration, with a perfect venue and Chinese comfort foods. She said the night was flawless.

“There were only 120 seats available but there were around 200 people who turned up,” Chong said. “It is amazing to see a good mix of faculty members, American students, international students, Chinese families in Abilene, Students’ Association members and students from Hardin-Simmons taking time out to experience this wonderful evening with the Chinese students.”

First-time students attending the festival had many things to look forward to, including the representation of culture through free food.

Rodney Johnson, junior business finance from Odessa, also attended the festival.

“First off, the food was awesome. I think it is so awesome that our students are so willing to share their culture,” Johnson said. “I feel honored to have celebrated my first moon festival.”