Candace Chambers
Staff Writer
Chinese students and faculty showcased and shared their culture at the 2014 JSU Chinese Moon Festival Gala held on Sept. 19, 2014 in the Jacob L. Reddix General Purpose Room.
To begin the gala, those in Chinese traditional ethnic attire modeled their colorful, decorative garments around the room. Afterwards, the audience was informed of the history of the Chinese Moon Festival.
The Chinese Moon Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival always falls on the 15th of the 8th month, according to the Chinese Lunar Calendar. The festival originated from the Chinese belief that the moon had a connection with the seasons and agricultural production. On this day, Chinese families make sacrifices to the moon, eat moon cakes with their families, and express love for family and friends far away.
Hueisheng Zhang, a graduate student majoring in chemistry from Shanghai, China celebrates the Chinese Moon Festival with his family in China.
“The event reminds me of the things about my family and my parents. I have to stay here a long time because there’s no going back home. I really miss my family. We can do this together to celebrate us who miss our friends and relatives,” said Zhang.
In addition to learning the history of the festival, attendees were also granted with poetry, calligraphy, a tea ceremony, singing, and 18- Posture Taiji boxing.
The Moon Festival could not have been complete without traditional Chinese cuisine. The menu featured steamed rice, wantons, beef teriyaki, and of course, moon cake.
The evening of culture provided a collaboration of the many cultures at Jackson State University, in the state, and in the nation.
Shirley Harrison, Interim Director of International Programs at JSU said, “Diversity is very important and the celebration of one’s culture is even more so important.”
Jackson State students learned more about Chinese culture by attending the 2014 Chinese Moon Festival Gala.
Tiffanie Herron, a junior mass communications major from Jackson, Miss. said, “I loved it. This is the second one I’ve been to because I took Chinese classes for two years. I loved the cuisine because I’m crazy about Chinese food.”
JiaJia Feng, a transfer student majoring in political science from China stated that the most significant meaning of the moon festival is family and unity.
“Back in China, we celebrate the moon festival on Aug. 15 according to the Chinese lunar calendar. On that day, we believe that the moon is the brightest and roundest in the sky, which symbolizes completeness of the family, because no one is missing.”
Tiffanie Herron (MC301) contributed to this story.
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