The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Mooncake Festival, is one of the most beloved celebrations in Chinese culture. It falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, when the moon is at its fullest and brightest, symbolising unity, gratitude, and family togetherness.
In China and much of East and Southeast Asia, this time of year marks the middle of autumn and the autumn harvest. Families would give thanks for a bountiful harvest while enjoying the beauty of the full moon. Here in Australia, of course, the festival falls in spring, not autumn, but the themes of reunion, gratitude, and storytelling still carry the same warmth and meaning.
At Polyglot Tales — your children’s language books store in Australia — we love exploring cultural festivals like Mid-Autumn because they’re a beautiful way to connect children to their heritage and language. Whether you’re from a bilingual family or simply want to introduce your children to global traditions, the Mooncake Festival is the perfect time to do so.
Traditional Ways of Celebrating
✨ Mooncakes – These round pastries are the highlight of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The round shape symbolises completeness and family reunion. Traditionally, mooncakes were offered to the Moon Goddess Chang’e as a token of worship. Over the centuries, they became a way for families and friends to express love, gratitude, and good wishes. Some legends even say that secret messages were hidden inside mooncakes during uprisings in ancient China! Today, whether filled with lotus seed paste, red bean, nuts, or even modern flavours like chocolate and mochi, mooncakes remain the sweetest symbol of togetherness.
✨ Lanterns – Lanterns light up the festival with colour and magic. In ancient times, lanterns were lit as a way to guide the spirits and to worship the moon. For children, lantern parades became a playful tradition, with animals, stars, or even rabbit-shaped lanterns being carried at night. The rabbit design comes from the Jade Rabbit of Chinese mythology, who is said to live on the moon with Chang’e. Releasing floating lanterns or hanging them in gardens continues to represent hopes for brightness and good fortune.
✨ Moon Gazing – On the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, the moon is said to be at its roundest and brightest. For thousands of years, people in China, Taiwan, and across East Asia have gathered outdoors to admire the full moon together. Scholars in ancient times would write poems under the moonlight, while farmers gave thanks for the autumn harvest. Today, families sit outdoors with tea and mooncakes, sharing the same sky as their loved ones near and far — a beautiful reminder that even across distances, the moon connects us.
✨ Stories & Legends – Mid-Autumn wouldn’t be complete without storytelling. The most famous tale is that of Chang’e, who drank an elixir of immortality and floated to the moon, where she lives to this day. Children also love hearing about Hou Yi, the archer who shot down nine of the ten suns to save the Earth, and the Jade Rabbit, who tirelessly pounds herbs on the moon to make medicine. These myths not only add wonder to the night but also carry values of sacrifice, bravery, and kindness — passed down from generation to generation.
Tip: Our Mid-Autumn Festival Pop-Up Book (available in Simplified Chinese) brings these very legends to life with interactive flaps, hidden surprises, and colourful artwork — a fun way to make storytime memorable for kids.
How Families in Australia Can Celebrate
Living in Australia doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the magic of Mid-Autumn. Here are some fun and practical ways to celebrate with your children:
🌕 Host a Backyard Moon Party – Set up picnic blankets under the night sky, share mooncakes (many Asian grocers in Australia stock them), and invite friends for a mini lantern walk.
🌕 Visit Local Events – Many Australian cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane host Mid-Autumn festivals with lion dances, food stalls, and lantern displays — a wonderful outing for bilingual families.
🌕 Cook Together – If mooncakes feel too tricky, try making simple “mooncake-inspired” cookies or dumplings as a family. Cooking is a fun way to bring language learning into daily life.
🌕 Storytime in Your Language – Gather the kids and tell the legend of Chang’e in Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, or Italian. If you need inspiration, browse our carefully curated collection of children’s picture books at Polyglot Tales to bring stories alive in your home language.
Fun Activities for Kids
🎨 DIY Lanterns – Use coloured paper, glue, and string to create simple lanterns. Let children decorate them with drawings of the moon, rabbits, or stars.
🖍 Moon Art – Draw or paint the full moon together. Talk about how the moon looks in different countries at the same time.
📚 Read Together – Share bilingual picture books about the moon, family, or festivals. Reading in your home language during celebrations helps children link culture with language in a natural way.
Why It Matters
Festivals like the Mid-Autumn Festival aren’t just about tradition — they’re opportunities to bond as a family, celebrate diversity, and give children a sense of pride in their heritage. At Polyglot Tales, your children’s language books store in Australia, we believe stories and books are the perfect bridge to keep these cultural treasures alive at home.
If your little ones are curious about the legends of Chang’e, Hou Yi, or the Jade Rabbit, you’ll love our Mid-Autumn Festival Pop-Up Book (Simplified Chinese). It’s an interactive and beautifully illustrated book filled with flaps, surprises, and side stories about the festival. Children can explore the traditions in a hands-on way while strengthening their connection to the Chinese language.
So this Mid-Autumn Festival, gather your family, light some lanterns, share a slice of mooncake, and tell a story under the full moon — perhaps even turning the pages of a pop-up book together. It’s a moment your children will remember, and one that connects them to both their language and culture in the most joyful way.