The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is a traditional festival celebrated in many Asian cultures. Activities like moon-gazing and displaying lanterns are popular across several countries. The most popular way to celebrate this festival in Taiwan is to gather with family and have a BBQ party.
Our neighboring country, Japan, on the other hand, has a different festival tradition. Instead of mooncakes, they prefer white rice cakes like mochi at this time of year. In Japanese myth, if you look carefully at a full moon, you might just notice a shape that looks like a rabbit pounding mochi with a mortar and pestle.
Our elementary students had a great time making mochi last week at WISE. They made different flavors of mochi with the help of their teachers and the kitchen staff to share with their family and friends. They not only had a great time, but they also celebrated the festival in a unique way.
