Candace Chambers
Blue & White Flash/News Editor
The Chinese Moon Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, occurs on the 15th day of the 8th Chinese lunar calendar every year. On this day, families unite and the moon is its brightest and fullest. Sure enough, the moon was shining, Sept. 28th, through the windows of Ballroom A of the Student Center.
On this evening of a glowing full moon, Jackson State University students of different ethnicities gathered to experience Chinese culture through music, food, language, and dance.
The program included Chinese poetry, folktales, and a skit, all performed by students of both Chinese and American culture. The ladies wore brightly colored Cheongsams, which are Chinese garments. Musical instruments included a harmonica, guitar, and a hulusi. Some foods for the evening were sweet and sour chicken, fried dumplings, sushi, and moon cake. Moon cake, a thick pastry filled with red azuki beans, is often served with tea at Chinese Moon Festivals.
The audience interacted with laughter and through singing. The students also performed “Jambo Bwana,” a Kenyan greeting song in the Swahili language, welcoming all cultures, including the Chinese, into the country.
Shantelle Hughes, a Chemstry graduate student from Centreville, Miss. enjoyed the festival.
“It was really good. I know a lot about Chinese culture because my professors, whom are Chinese, teach us different things,” said Hughes.
Mei-Chi Chen Piletz, Director of Jackson State’s Office of China Initiatives expressed her joy of the work and participation of the Chinese students. The evening ended her 17 year tenure at JSU. She told her students and the audience, “I am so blessed.”
Hongato Yu, professor and Chair of JSU’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, felt that the festival was great for the mingling of different cultures.
“The mixture of people provides an opportunity to get to know about Chinese culture. The Chinese students can feel at home,” said Yu.
He added, “JSU international interaction can bring Chinese students to JSU and JSU to China.”
