Cover image via Oasis Damansara Blog
Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as Lantern or Mooncake Festival, is typically celebrated by the ethnic Chinese and Vietnamese people on the night of a full moon during the 8th month in the Chinese Calendar. Though celebrations for the festival has diminished over the years, some rituals and traditions are still observed today with a modern twist. Here are some examples:
1. Playing lanterns!
Image via AP / Lai Seng Sin/The Sacramento Bee
By playing, what you really do is just holding your lantern(s) and walk around with it.
You certainly played with one of these…
Image via Downtown East
…and you can't go wrong with these timeless glass paper lanterns!
Image via Oasis Damansara Blog
But these days you'll find that kids are playing with the battery-operated ones
Image via Carousell
2. Hang lanterns in every place you can think of, like the laundry line…
Image via Agnes/Once Over Lightly
… On the balcony fence…
Image via Catherine Jones Cooks
… And even on trees!
Image via Xinhua/China Daily
3. BBQ!
It's a great excuse to invite family and friends for a get-together.
4. Play with leftover firecrackers from Chinese New Year. Most likely Pop Pop or sparklers.
Image via All Spark Fireworks
Image via Reuelwrites
5. Light up a lot of candles and put them everywhere, like in a box…
Image via DaGrits
… At open spaces
Image via Calvin My Journey
… And finally resort to using the gate when they run out of space
Image via Escape 2
6. Okay, do not try this at home, but some people actually play with candles. "Playing" means lighting up the candles and watching them melt…
Image via Paul/Stripped Pixels
… Or arranging them nicely to form words or patterns
Image via Cony Writing
Those who feel particularly creative may start creating their new masterpiece with some melting wax
Image via SAYS
7. Burn something. Paper lanterns rarely survive the night…
Image via Agnes/Once Over Lightly
… And once you've run out of things to light up, even leaves would do. Again, PLEASE DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME.
Image via Wang Minyoung
8. After all the outdoor excitement, it's time to stuff your face full with mooncakes… and maybe share some with your family and friends.
Image via Flight network blog
9. Chill out for the rest of the evening with some moon-gazing. It's traditional!
However, with the [ongoing haze in our country](http://says.com/my/news/why-does-the-haze-visit-us-annually) lately, we reckon you won't be able to have a good view of the full moon this time around.
Image via @alvincheungmd
