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Filipino Palitaw
Living in a Filipino household, I’ve always learned the importance of family, and the countless experiences, traditions, and foods that defined our cultural identity. Every one of my New Year’s Eve consists of buying a variety of twelve fruits, roasting chestnuts, shaking coins in our pockets, and spending time with my family. These traditions and superstitions are necessary to follow in order for the family to have a life of good luck and prosperity.
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Younghoe Who?
Asian-American athletes are historically very rarely seen in western team sports. Taiwanese American Jeremy Lin was absolutely sensational in the NBA for a couple of months, and the phenomena known as “Linsanity” certainly took over the league by storm.
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Thanksgiving in Asia
Submitted by Julia Sayco The universalization of Thanksgiving- its origin, history, and traditions- yield a similar commonality to all: the expression of gratitude towards others and the appreciation of family, food, and life. Thanksgiving is generalized and seen by many as a day of “giving thanks” for the abundance of blessings and spiritual upbringings from the seasonal harvest. Despite the renown celebration of this holiday, Thanksgiving is not uniquely American. Many forget that on a global scale, the amount of festivities and events differ with each country. Asia, most especially, incorporates a mesh of cultural practices and customs that vary from the traditional U.S. Thanksgiving. The art of being…
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Family in an Asian Household
In Asian cultures, family is more than just kinship. It is spiritual - you practice it, embrace it, and make it a central part of your life.
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Embracing Culture at the Thanksgiving Table
One amazing thing about being a child of immigrants is the duality of cultures you grow up with.
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The Mooncake: the unexpected snack of revolution
Submitted by Grace Zhang One of the most beloved traditional pastries in East and Southeast Asia, mooncakes are often synonymous with the Mid-Autumn Festival. Celebrated on the full moon of the eighth lunar month, the festival is marked by family reunions, get-togethers with friends, and of course, lots of special foods. While people can usually identify this sweet delicacy with its intricate patterns and delicious lotus seed paste filling, many are not familiar with the centuries old history behind the mooncake. Here is the story of how one innocuous pastry played a pivotal role in the downfall of an entire dynasty. Like many Chinese customs, the origins of the mooncake…
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Mid-Autumn Festival: A Heart filled of Longing
Submitted by Jehleen Zheng What do you do when you miss someone? Whether it be a family member, aloved one, or a friend, what do you do to express your wish that they were by yourside? The Mid-Autumn Festival carries a deeper sense of purpose rather than just themooncake feasting traditions. The festival is also about reuniting with family members,gazing at the moon and engaging in festivities together. It’s only during thesehomecoming festivals that people are able to truly reflect on how much they miss theirloved ones. In Chinese culture, the bond between parents and children is regarded as one ofthe most noble feelings ever existed in the social system.…
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The Love Story of Hou Yi and Chang’e – A Mid-Autumn Moon Legend
Submitted by Julia Sayco Since ancient times, the Mid-autumn Moon Festival, a celebration of spiritual growth and change, has become an endearing part of the lives of many families in Southeast Asia. Both children and adults are enriched through a sense of unity and love by honoring the full-harvest moon and its nourishing light. In relation to what many consider as an “American Thanksgiving,” this time frame centralizes the importance of gathering together through recognition of the seasonal harvest. While the holiday is well-known for its countless festivities, familial customs, and cultural traditions including the eating of fluffy mooncakes, the lighting of lanterns, and the peaceful viewing of the flowing…
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WOMEN IN MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL AMID COVID-19: A “BREAK” FROM TRADITION
Submitted by Maeve Nguyen Ten months into 2020 and we still need to remind ourselves on a daily basis that this is an unprecedented time in the history of human beings. Never before have any of us imagined that we would spend most of our celebrations, festivals, and parties, if there is any, alone or with just a few close family members. With no more big gatherings, what is the purpose of festivities? More importantly, what do we do now? The Mid-Autumn Festival, otherwise known as the Moon Festival or the Mooncake Festival, is one of the most important and age-old festivals in East and South Asia, dating back to…
