Symbolizing family unity and perfection

Moon cake	Moon cake

Moon cake, being the traditional food at the Mid-Autumn Festival, August 15th in Chinese lunar calendar, has a long history. In 1280 AD, the Mongolians destroyed the Song Dynasty and controlled China during the Yuan Dynasty (1280AD -1368 AD). Under Mongolian rule, Chinese people were oppressed, persecuted and treated like slaves. Finally, the Chinese had enough and planned a revolution to be held during the August Moon Festival in 1368. Because Mongolians don’t eat moon cakes, the Chinese planned to overthrow the Mongolians by sending secret messages in moon cakes. Chinese bakers were told to send moon cakes to all Chinese households with the message to execute all Mongolians after the August Moon family gathering. Chinese families were instructed to not to eat the moon cakes until the 15th of the 8th lunar moon.
Besides its significance in Chinese history, mooncakes play an important role in August Moon gatherings and gift giving. These palm-sized round cakes symbolize family unity and perfection. Some mooncakes have a golden yellow egg yoke in the center which looks like a bright moon. They usually come in a box of four and are packaged in tin boxes with traditional Chinese motifs.
Over the years, mooncakes have slowly evolved from a Chinese delicacy to something as common as ice cream cake. To adapt to today’s health conscious and Westernized lifestyle, many bakeries offer miniature mooncakes and fat-free mooncakes. Some are made of yogurt, jelly and fat-free ice cream. To be competitive, bakers boast about how little sugar and oil they use in their mooncakes.
Now, an increasing number of people would like to present mooncakes to friends for sending regard to them.