According to ancient Chinese folk tales, the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrates the day of the year that two star-crossed lovers are able to meet. It also celebrates the full harvest moon, which is seen as a symbol of peace, fortune, and family. Today, the festival is considered one of the most important Chinese holidays of the year. Those who partake in the Mid-Autumn Festival take this time to celebrate the harvest with family members, participate in fun games and outdoor fairs, and enjoy traditional foods.
The Chinese Student Association brought the Mid-Autumn Festival to Stevens this past Wednesday. The Babbio Center Atrium was decked out with red ribbons, lotus blossoms, and paper lanterns. Upbeat Chinese music was played to set a joyful atmosphere, and tables and chairs were set up so that students could experience the feeling of togetherness that comes from celebrating the holiday with others. The event featured many staples from Chinese culture, including bubble tea from Vivi Bubble Tea on Washington Street.
The Chinese Student Association served egg custard tarts, traditional mooncakes in several flavors, pork dumplings, Asian barbequed pork, fortune cookies, and hot dogs wrapped in sweet pastries. While students did enjoy eating their favorite Americanized Chinese foods, most were also excited to try the more traditional dishes. As they ate, they were invited to participate in a traditional Asian game of goldfish scooping. The game, commonly played at night markets and carnivals, involves using a paper scooping utensil to catch as many goldfish as possible before the paper rips. Many students took home the fish they caught as pets.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the Chinese Student Association’s biggest events of the year, and the organization’s Vice President, Jonathan Wong, was pleased by the turnout. According to him, “The whole point of hosting events like this is to spread awareness about and influence of the Chinese culture on campus. We’re a close-knit club, so it’s great to share our sense of community and interest in Chinese culture with other Stevens students.” All students are invited to attend the Chinese Student Association’s next General Body Meeting on Thursday, October 1, at 9 p.m. in Room 210 of the Babbio Center.
