Written by: Staff Report
Posted on: September 30, 2020 | 
| 中文
The Poster for the Mid-Autumn Festival Online Cultural Event
People all over the world are gearing up to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. Held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar, the festival is also called the Moon Festival. It celebrates what is believed to be the night when the moon in its fullest phase of the year as well as the time of the autumn harvest. The day marks a reunion of families, friends and lovers, who gather together to celebrate the holiday and wish for a prosperous future. This year, the Mid-Autumn Festival week also falls on Chinese National Day, that is the 1st of October.
This year, however, due to the breakout of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent global lockdown, festivities are going digital with the ‘Mid-Autumn Festival: A Moonmoment to Remember’, an online cultural celebration. It is hosted by the Bureau of International Exchange and Cooperation of China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and is hosted by the Network of International Culturalink entities, overseas China Cultural Centres and China Tourism Offices. The online cultural week will include virtual reality tours, short videos, live streaming, and short online courses that revolve around the Festival and traditional Chinese culture.
A Girl Lighting Incense In Taiwan
The Festival kicked off with ‘The Oriental Beauty in Blossom’, performed by artists from the China Oriental Song and Dance Ensemble, an artistic institution in Beijing under the Ministry of Culture. This collection of songs and dances focused on the moon, the various folktales around it, and the feelings of romance and beauty that it is meant to inspire. The songs and dances had recurring themes of anticipation, preparation and finally, the joy of reunion: from the dance of the excited bunny that awaits the moon’s arrival, to the swell of the brightly colored dancers who celebrate the full moon’s meeting with the earth.
The Dance of National Beauty and Heavenly Fragrance
Other unique performances which will be live-streamed include the ‘Shared Moon, Shared Happiness’ performance by the China National Opera and Dance Drama Theatre that would incorporate traditional folk music with modern electronic dance music, and ‘Bright Moon, Best Wishes’, a collection of traditional Chinese songs sung by the Chorus of the China National Symphony Orchestra. The purpose of these performances is not just to showcase the depth and variety of China’s unique cultural traditions but also to share the feeling of joy and celebration with the rest of the world.
Preparing Mooncakes
What was equally fascinating to behold, was the virtual Mid-Autumn exhibition. Guided by the fluffy moon bunny (which serves as a symbol of the moon on earth), viewers can wander through a virtual Chinese city, to learn about the different traditions and aspects of the Festival, and also through tourist destinations in China. The videos in this virtual exhibition feature cultural cuisines like the famous Mooncakes of the festival, and traditional crafts like the brightly colored Clay statues of Lord Rabbit, the mythical Rabbit sent to cure China of a plague in ancient folklore.
The Virtual Exhibition of the Mid-Autumn Festival
Another equally impressive virtual feat is the Virtual Reality Experience tour of cities in China during the Mid-Autumn festival. The software uses 5G technology to take viewers to various distinct regions of China like Tibet, Yunnan, Chongqing, etc.
Although people in Pakistan might experience some technical difficulties in viewing parts of the exhibition, a majority of the videos and performances are accessible on most web browsers. The Online Cultural Celebration is a fascinating look into a very distinctly Chinese holiday, and the creative ways in which online festivals can bring together people from all over the world. As the organizers of the Online festival reiterated, mankind jointly shares the moon, the earth and the feats of human civilization. Therefore, not only must we come together in times of celebration such as festivals, but also work together in difficult times.
A Girl Throwing a Nuptual Handkerchief
Cultural Week will continue till 5th October, and those who are interested can check out the ‘China Cultural Centre in Pakistan’s’ Facebook for updates as well as extra videos jointly made by the China Cultural Centers around the world. Visit the ‘China Culture’ website for live-streaming, videos and upcoming schedule for the Mid-Autumn Festival events.
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