SACRED HEART SCHOOL – HIJAS DE JESUS FAMILY CELEBRATES THE MOON FESTIVAL
by:   Mrs. Helene Yu (Chinese Elementary  Coordinator)

          It has become a tradition in Sacred Heart School – Hijas de Jesus to celebrate the Moon Festival which is the second most awaited annual event among the Chinese people, next only to the Chinese New Year or Spring Festival.  Since it is always commemorated every 15th day of the 8th lunar month, the Moon Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, was celebrated last September 14, 2008.
The most well-known legends that gave rise to the Mid-Autumn Festival are that of (1) Hou Yi, the divine archer shooting nine out of ten Suns that were endangering the Earth, (2) his Lady Chang Er drinking the Goddess Xiwangmu’s  herb of immortality and flying to the moon,  (3) her pet Jade Rabbit making heavenly medicine, (4) Wu Gang chopping the cherry tree in the moon, and (5) the Chinese people back in the Yuan Dynasty defeating the Mongolians by hiding secret messages and military strategies inside moon cakes.   Through the years, there have evolved many versions of all these legends, but the question is... 

         Why do we Sacred Hearters celebrate the Moon Festival?  Is it only because we are a Chinese School?  We celebrate this event to honor our history and our culture.  It is not only about telling and re-telling these stories that started this tradition, making lanterns, eating moon cakes and playing games; but it is more about appreciating the values of family and oneness, loyalty and love of country, bravery and heroism.

          This year, the high school students were asked to point out and recount their favorite story, as well as give their insights.  The grade school pupils were asked to make their own colourful interpretation of the legend through coloring activities of moon cakes (these are round to symbolize unity and completion) and of the Lady Chang Er.  The highlight of the day, as always, was the moon game played with six pieces of dice.  We thank the generous support of the Parents’ Association for providing the prizes.  It was all the usual stuff, but it became a significant school activity because it involved the whole student body.  It was a time for remembering and appreciating our Chinese heritage, as well as having fun as an educative FI family! 

Pupils enjoying the Moon Festival Games

Pupils lining up to throw the dice for the Moon Game

 

Teachers busy with the Moon Festival prizes