The Lantern Festival is also celebrated as the Mooncake or Mid-Autumn Festival annually. It is tradionally observed on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Lunar calendar.

It is popular for Chinese families to gather together in their homes for food and traditional mooncakes. It is also a time for little children to wander around the neighbourhood carrying lighted lanterns of different shapes and colours.

Legend and myths abound over the origins of this favourite celebration. There are three tales to tell.

One story has it that the Jade Emperor became incensed with a town for having slaughtered his favourite goose that he called upon a fierce storm to destroy the town's residents. But a kind fairy intervened and told the people to light lanterns all over town. The Jade Emperor seeing that the towns seemingly ablaze thought the storm had fulfilled its purpose. To this day, small town across rural China has villagers lighting hundreds of lanterns and celebrating with thanksgiving feasts and lion and dragon dances.

Another popular tale goes differently. Ten suns lit the sky where their combined heat nearly scorched the earth. But it was Hou Yi, the famous Chinese archer and his wife Chang O along with their children from Earth who made a difference. The Western Goddess took pity on the family and gave Hou Yi an elixir of immortality. But Hou Yi's wife Chang O took the whole potion for herself. As the potion worked its powers, she became increasingly lighter and floated into the sky. She sought solace and shelter on the moon where she built a palace and lived as the Lady of the Moon. To this day, common folks continue to offer prayers and sacrifices to the moon to mommemorate this date... 15th day of the 8th moon.

An additional tale surrounds the origin of the mooncake. This little round pastry is said to have begun in the Yuan Dynasty. The Han people rose against the Mongol rule of the Yuan Dynasty with revolutionaries led by Chu Yuan Chang. Chu's adviser Liu Po Wen came up with an idea of uniting the people secretly by distributing specially-baked mooncakes with a message hidden within. It urged them to "revolt on the 15th day of the 8th moon". On that day, the people started a revolution against their government and were rescued from oppression. Today, mooncakes symbolise families who stay united. (Adaptation)