Chinese Moon Festival

Mid-Autumn Festival

The Chinese Moon Festival community event took place on Tuesday afternoon, 25th of September at Happy Days Restaurant in Kirkcaldy.

The event was organised by the Chinese Communities including Fife Chinese Older People Association, Fife Chinese Association, Fife Chinese Women Association, Fife Chinese Language School, Fife Chinese Lion Dancing Club with support of FRAE Fife (REP).

Overall nearly 100 people attended the celebration and amongst the guests were Fife Chinese Communities representatives, Mrs Margaret Dean, Lord Lieutenant for Fife, Mr Brian Dean, Mr Peter Wilson, the Chief Constable of Fife Constabulary, MSP Tricia Marwick and Mr Naeem Khalid FRAE Fife Co-ordinator.

The Moon Festival is one of the two most important festivals in Chinese culture, the other being Chinese Lunar New Year. It is a mid-autumn festival dating back over 3,000 years. It falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month of the Chinese calendar, which is an equivalent date to the Autumn Equinox in solar calendar. At that time the moon is at its fullest and brightest. The festival honours abundance, togetherness, families and respect for elderly people.

At the opening all the invited guests were gathered outside the Happy Days Restaurant at St Claire Street in Kirkcaldy. They were greeted by Chinese Lion Club performance. The Lion symbolise happiness and liveliness and is commonly used for welcoming guests in Chinese traditional events.

After the Dance of the Lion everybody went into the restaurant, where the Fife Chinese Association Chairperson Mr Derek Fong welcomed the guests. The Welcome was followed by Key speeches delivered by Mrs Margaret Dean, Mr Peter Wilson and Mr Michael To, Chairperson for Fife Chinese Older People’s Association. Mr To stressed the dynamic growth of the Chinese Community within Fife and how active it is nowadays. He thanked Fife Council and FRAE Fife for participating in a successful integration process.

Mr Peter Wilson highlighted the importance of respecting the Chinese principles like valuing elderly people and families, which should be remembered and important to everybody every day. He also underlined recent successful projects, thanks to which a better future for young generation has been created.

The majority of Chinese people living in Fife came to the UK in 1950 and 60s, when British Government encouraged the Chinese people from Hong Kong to immigrate to the UK. Nowadays they have a culture holding on to the traditional features with noticeable touch of the West.

The religion of many Chinese people is mostly Buddhism or Confucianism, but the majority of the families follows a secular way of life. They remain faithful to traditional values, including respect for elders and authority, reliance on the family and hard work.

During the feast consisted of a great choice of traditional Chinese dishes, a performance of Chinese music and singing took place.

The Chinese Moon Festival event was a great example of traditional Chinese holiday and it was enjoyed by all the gathered people.