Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th of the 8th month of the Lunar Calendar when the moon is full and the breeze is cool. This Chinese tradition could be dated back to the Tang Dynasty when farmers waited anxiously for a good harvest after a year's of hard work. On Mid-Autumn Festival, they would enjoy the full moon, pray to the gods for their blessings, and thank the land on which they toiled.

Amongst the legends associated with the Festival, none is more beautiful than the one about Shang Oh who ascended to the moon. Once upon a time, a tyrant by the name of Hou Yi acquired an "immortal herb" from Queen Mother of Heaven and the people were terrorized that this would mean no end to his brutal rule. Sympathetic with the fears of the people, Shang Oh, his wife, stole and ate the "immortal herb" which lightened her body to a breeze that blew all the way up to the moon.

Today, Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated with Moon Cakes which are roundly shaped to symbolize the full moon which is prettiest on that day. It is a special occasion for family gatherings and often those who are working abroad will make a special trip home for a reunion. In the past, the event would be typically celebrated with a gourmet feast, and even the impoverished would pawn their belongings to buy some food and wine for their families. Mid-Autumn Festival has also been associated with romance, and lovers will capitalize on the occasion to pledge their union and unending love for each other.

There is also a story behind Moon Cakes. During the Yuan Dynasty, the Han race which was persecuted by the tight-fisted Mongol rulers wanted to over throw the regime but had no way of passing the word around. Then someone started a rumour that an epidemic was spreading and to be spared, people would have to eat Moon Cakes on Mid-Autumn Festival. So everyone bought Moon Cakes and hidden inside was a message asking the people to "come and join the uprising against the Yuan soldiers on the 15th of the 8th month". Responding to the appeal, the people joined forces and launched a major attack on the Mongol soldiers who were drunk after the gourmet feast. Since then, Moon Cakes have become a part of the Mid-Autumn tradition.

There are many different recipes for Moon Cakes - Guangdong, Northern, and Chiu Chow styles. Other festive items include taro, fruits, and crabs - a seasonal delicacy and a popular dish on the menu for Mid-Autumn Festival.