Excited to Be Part of a Record-Breaking Moment: 113 Chang'es Unite for Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration

Hi Huneybees,

Last weekend, I experienced an exhilarating record-breaking moment that I won’t forget anytime soon. It had been quite a while since I last celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival with such a large, vibrant crowd, and the sense of community was truly heartwarming.

As part of PAssionArts Festival 2024, Canberra Community Club hosted a Mid-Autumn themed celebration - “Moonlit Serenade”, filled with exciting activities that kept everyone engaged throughout the night. In the weeks leading up to the event, residents and students came together to craft 1,000 lanterns, which were proudly displayed on the rooftop. This stunning installation quickly became a popular spot for photo opportunities.

I even got the chance to make a lantern to bring home! It’s been a long time since I’ve indulged in some hands-on crafting, and it was such a nostalgic and enjoyable experience to reconnect with a creative pastime.

There were plenty of other activities to enjoy, including Air Dry Clay Mooncake Keychain Making, DIY Ice Cream Cup Making, Recycled Pouch Making, Food-themed Keychain Crafting, and something I found particularly intriguing - Calligraphy Writing on Chopsticks.

The highlight of the evening, however, was the unique Singapore Book of Records (SBOR) attempt for the "Largest Gathering of People Dressed as Chang’e," the moon goddess. Participants arrived in a variety of Chinese traditional costumes, and the final count reached an impressive 113 people. The youngest participant was just 11 months old, while the eldest was 82 years old!

The night concluded with graceful dance performances by the enchanting Chang'es, as everyone left happily with their lanterns or self-made crafts in hand.

The PAssionArts Festival 2024 will continue until 30 September 2024, offering a vibrant celebration of creativity and culture with events happening all over Singapore. Find the ones near you and join in the fun! Be sure to follow PAssionArts for more updates.

Do follow me on my social media for more daily updates...
 Facebook | X | Instagram | TikTok

Read More

1,000 Lanterns in the Making for Canberra PAssionArts Festival 2024

Hi Huneybees,

Lanterns made from the cardboard paper towels and toilet rolls collected from the community.
Photo Credit: PAssionArts Festival 2024

In an effort to craft 1,000 lanterns for the Canberra PAssionArts Festival and Mid-Autumn celebrations, Canberra residents came together to design vibrant lanterns made entirely from cardboard rolls.

This lantern-making initiative, part of the PAssionArts Festival 2024, supports sustainability and fosters community connections through art. Around 200 residents, spanning toddlers, families, teenagers, and senior citizens, participated in workshops held at Canberra CC and Residents’ Network Centres, pouring their creativity into each lantern for this shared project.

Families from Canberra, young and old, create beautiful lanterns to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival. These handcrafted lanterns will be featured in the upcoming "Moonlit Serenade" event in conjunction with PAssionArts Festival, showcasing 1,000 lanterns. 

Photo credit: PAssionArts Festival 2024.

These 1,000 handcrafted lanterns will be showcased in a dazzling display at the "Moonlit Serenade" Canberra PAssionArts Festival on 7 September 2024. The festival will also feature an exciting attempt to set a new Singapore Book of Records for the largest gathering of 100 people dressed as Chang'e, the moon goddess!

"This year’s PAssionArts Festival, as part of the Mid-Autumn celebrations at Canberra, has really shown how strong our community spirit is. Seeing everyone pitch in to make these 1,000 lanterns by hand just goes to show how much we can achieve when we come together. It’s been heartwarming to see everyone’s efforts come to life, and I believe this will be a celebration we’ll all remember." --- Ms Emily Chin, Chairperson of the Canberra Community Arts and Culture Club.

Residents from Canberra Briskwalkers Interest Group participate in a lantern-making activity at the Residents’ Network centre, to contribute their handmade lanterns towards the target of 1,000 lanterns for the upcoming Canberra PAssionArts Festival 2024. 

Photo credit: PAssionArts Festival 2024.

Ticketing Details: Don't miss out on this magical celebration! Join in at the Canberra Community Club on 7 September 2024 and witness the beauty of 1,000 handcrafted lanterns. More event details are available on FB, and registration closes on 7 September 2024: OnePA’s Registration Link. See you there!

Do follow me on my social media for more daily updates...
 Facebook | X | Instagram | TikTok

Read More

[Giveaway Closed] Happy MidAutumn Festival my Huneybees!!

Hi Huneybees,

The last time I was at Chinese Garden celebrating MidAutumn Festival...

Today is the MidAutumn Festival (中秋节). What have you guys planned with the family? I will be home for dinner before heading out to Chinese Garden with a couple of friends and hubby....

Actually, I was asked about the Chang'e story yesterday and I jammed. I forgot! So I came home to Wikipedia and thanks to technology, I got the story again....

Houyi was an immortal and Chang'e was a beautiful young girl, working in the palace of the Jade Emperor (the Emperor of Heaven) as an attendant to the Queen Mother of the West (the Jade Emperor's wife). Houyi aroused the jealousy of the other immortals, who then slandered him before the Jade Emperor. Houyi and his wife, Chang'e, were subsequently banished from heaven. They were forced to live on Earth. Houyi had to hunt to survive and became a skilled and famous archer.

At that time, there were 10 suns, in the form of three-legged birds, residing in a mulberry tree in the eastern sea. Each day one of the sun birds would have to travel around the world on a carriage, driven by Xihe, the 'mother' of the suns. One day, all ten of the suns circled together, causing the Earth to burn. Emperor Yao, the Emperor of China, commanded Houyi to use his archery skill to shoot down all but one of the suns. Upon completion of his task, the Emperor rewarded Houyi with a pill that granted eternal life. 

Emperor Yao advised Houyi not to swallow the pill immediately but instead to prepare himself by praying and fasting for a year before taking it. Houyi took the pill home and hid it under a rafter. One day, Houyi was summoned away again by Emperor Yao. During her husband's absence, Chang'e, noticed a white beam of light beckoning from the rafters, and discovered the pill. Chang'e swallowed it and immediately found that she could fly. Houyi returned home, realizing what had happened he began to reprimand his wife. Chang'e escaped by flying out the window into the sky.

Houyi pursued her halfway across the heavens but was forced to return to Earth because of strong winds. Chang'e reached the moon, where she coughed up part of the pill. Chang'e commanded the hare that lived on the moon to make another pill. Chang'e would then be able to return to Earth and her husband.

The legend states that the hare is still pounding herbs, trying to make the pill. Houyi built himself a palace in the sun, representing "Yang" (the male principle), in contrast to Chang'e's home on the moon which represents "Yin" (the female principle). Once a year, on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Houyi visits his wife. That is the reason why the moon is very full and beautiful on that night.

This is always a great time to spend time with you loved ones and I wish all of you a very Happy MidAutumn Festival! Share how you spent your MidAutumn Festival ya? :)

And according to tradition, during MidAutumn Festival, there's always a riddle time (猜灯谜).

Can you answer this? "兩間屋子真稀奇，大門常開也常關，屋裡可容千萬人，難容沙粒住裡邊。 (猜一人體部份)?". Crack your brains and I'll reveal the answer tonight.... The first person who gets it right will receive a little goodie bag from me.... Have fun!

Read More