Munch Moon Cakes and make a wish @ The Moon Festival in LA's Chinatown

I blame the Summer Olympics in Beijing for my obsession with all things Chinese. And I especially blame wordsmith goddess Amy Tan and her intoxicating novels, namely "The Joy Luck Club" for making Chinese traditions seem so fascinating namely the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival. This weekend I might actually get a chance to fill all of my senses with the smells, sounds, sights and rituals of this holiday celebrating the autumn harvest. Oh, and maybe open up the world to my children a little bit without actually having to whip out the passports or leaving the city.

This weekend marks the celebration of the annual event and
Chinatown in Los Angeles is ready to celebrate with a wonderful free family festival full of activities honoring this special festival. According to the Chinatown LA site " On Saturday, September 13 from 5:30 to 10:00 p.m., Chinatown will host the Southland�s oldest annual Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. Martial arts, children's storytelling, and a magician show will be featured at the outset, followed by a traditional skit performed by the Miss L.A. Chinatown Queen and Court. Phoenix Bakery, Chinatown's oldest bakery, will demonstrate how moon cakes are made mixing red bean, lotus seeds, and egg yolks in this traditional treat, complimentary samples of which will be handed out later in the evening. The Griffith Observatory, which is making telescopes available throughout the day, will demonstrate how to get the best views of the sun and the moon"

"As this year marks the 70th anniversary of New Chinatown, a special emphasis is being placed on history at the event. When the sun goes down, several awards will be handed to Chinatown organizations and elders, a lighting of the plaza�s historic neon lights will take place, and a 30-minute documentary film titled �Chinatown Remembered� will be showcased."

Help you mini party goer make a Chinese lantern, whip up a few tasty moon cakes and practice making a wish. We're so lucky to live in a nation filled with cultural diversity. Share some of this with your kids and open their eyes to all the wonders of this great planet.

Link: Mid-Autumn Moon Festival @ Chinatown LA