Saturday 26 September · 11:00–19:00
The Moon Festival
The legend of Chang’e, and why we look at the moon together.
The legend of Chang’e
Why we celebrate the Moon Festival
Chang’e, the moon goddess, sits at the heart of an ancient story about love, courage and connection. The archer Hou Yi shot nine suns from the sky and was given an elixir of immortality; Chang’e drank it and rose to the moon, where she has lived ever since with the Jade Rabbit.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival families look at the full moon together and share mooncakes. It is a festival of coming home: the moment in the year when the moon is at its roundest, and people who live far apart still look at the same sky.
Why do we celebrate?
Five reasons the moon matters
Family
Coming together under the full moon, wherever you live.
Mooncakes
Shared and passed on — the sweet heart of the festival.
Lanterns
Light to show the way through the darkest month.
Jade Rabbit
Chang’e’s companion, pounding the elixir on the moon.
Togetherness
From generation to generation, tradition into now.
The story is read aloud live on Saturday 26 September at 11:30 and 14:45 on stage.