The Optimist
  • Home
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Features
  • Print Edition
    • The Pessimist
    • Special Projects
  • Police Log
  • Classifieds
You are here: Home / News / Chinese New Moon festival features Kung Fu and moon cakes

Chinese New Moon festival features Kung Fu and moon cakes

September 16, 2016 by Chelsea Twohy

A festival celebrating the moon, community and traditions of China took place Monday in the Hunter Welcome Center.

In order to maintain the traditional atmosphere of the festivities, the Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) officers were clothed in authentic Chinese garments. Attendees received moon cakes, which are the traditional food eaten during the festival.

Annie Yao, junior marketing major from China, elegantly displays traditional Chinese dancing

Annie Yao, junior marketing major from China, elegantly displays traditional Chinese dancing

Annie Yao, junior marketing major from China and vice president of CSSA, performed a traditional Chinese dance, and Rui Bi, a sophomore financial management student from China and president of CSSA, performed Kung Fu moves.

Yao said that the leaders of CSSA want to communicate to students the real meaning of the Chinese tradition is, not the “American” view.

“People think China is Little Panda or Panda Express, but that is not real China,” Yao said.

One of the most important elements of the festival, according to the club leaders, is not just to keep with the traditions, but provide everyone with the feeling of hospitality and home.

Yao said that the moon festival is really special for the people who are separated from their family and missing each other. Yao also said that the moon is special because “if you are in another country or another place the moon is the same.”

Rui Bi, a sophomore financial management student from China, exhibits a pose from the ancient art of Kung Fu.

Rui Bi, a sophomore financial management student from China, exhibits a pose from the ancient art of Kung Fu.

“A big thing I would do at home [in China] was eat dinner with my family,” said Bi. “And then after we would just talk and ask how it was going or how the day and school was going and then watch the moon.”

The tradition of this festival originated in ancient China, but the stories and customs vary. Katelyn Teague, CSSA secretary and junior English education major from Abilene, read one of the more well-known legends about the moon goddess Chang’e at the festival.

According to a YouTube video titled “The Legend of the Mooncake Festival,” one telling of the tale says that as a way to reward a skilled archer named Hou Yi for his heroic achievements, the Queen of Heaven gave him an elixir that would bring him immortality. Hou Yi did not want to drink it because he wished not to be parted from his beloved and virtuous wife, Chang’e.

A conniving man named Peng Meng attempted to steal the elixir of life. As a sacrifice, Chang’e drank it and flew towards the sky, where she remains immortalized on the moon. As a way to commemorate her goodness, Hou Yi built an altar for her and placed the food she liked there. The folk people followed suit and began praying to this new goddess for happiness and safety after building their own altars.

Autumn was chosen as the season for worship because they believed that was when the moon was at its brightest and fullest.

The theme of family and togetherness is still central to this tradition in modern day celebrations whereas the custom of sacrificing to the moon has become more for fun. The festival is celebrated every year on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. Scheduling conflicts are what forced the leaders of CSSA to choose Monday as the day of celebration.

Filed Under: News

Other News:

  • Provost adopts new policy for emeriti faculty

  • Demolition begins on Sherrod residential apartments

  • ACU Gives exceeds goal, raises over $919,000

About Chelsea Twohy

You are here: Home / News / Chinese New Moon festival features Kung Fu and moon cakes

Other News:

  • Provost adopts new policy for emeriti faculty

  • Demolition begins on Sherrod residential apartments

  • ACU Gives exceeds goal, raises over $919,000

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

Retweet on Twitter The Optimist Retweeted
optimistsports Optimist Sports @optimistsports ·
26 Jun

The United Athletic Conference is officially taking the place of the Western Athletic Conference in the 2026-2027 athletic year. The UAC is a joint football effort between the WAC and the ASUN but will now extend to all sports. #acuoptimist #acuathletics #wac #uac

Reply on Twitter 1938240320854008109 Retweet on Twitter 1938240320854008109 2 Like on Twitter 1938240320854008109 7 Twitter 1938240320854008109
Retweet on Twitter The Optimist Retweeted
ashleyh1607 Ashley Henderson @ashleyh1607 ·
3 Jun

My second year at ACU was full of opportunities that grew me as an individual and a journalist.

In my first year as editor in chief of @acuoptimist, we published six print issues, filmed a 3-hour live election show, and revamped our newscast, all while producing news weekly.

Reply on Twitter 1929734328445178254 Retweet on Twitter 1929734328445178254 1 Like on Twitter 1929734328445178254 1 Twitter 1929734328445178254

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

1 years ago

The Optimist

Video

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

2 years ago

The Optimist
"Ending my college education early was always the plan for me, but the things that I have been able to see, experience and examine about ACU’s community were not. I have found immense growth in ACU over the past three and a half years, but ACU still has a long road to climb if it wants to keep catering to students as the world changes around them." To read more of this article visit acuoptimist.com or click the link in our bio. #acu #abilenechristianuniversity #privatechristianuniversity #collegestudentopinion #acuopinion ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Optimist Newscast Feb. 28, 2024

Our top stories today include a recap of The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, the ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 21, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 14, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Jan. 24, 2024

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Policies
    • Advertising Policy
    • Letters to the Editor and Reader Comments
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Features
  • Advertise
    • Paid Advertisement
  • Police Log

© 2025 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved