Jinn Xiang said that she was looking forward to celebrate this year's Mooncake Festival as it would be one of the few occasions where she would have the opportunity to dine with her parents. "I am staying with my husband now and no longer see my parents as much so I really treasure any moment that I have with them," she said, adding that her parents had always prepared a feast every year to celebrate the festival. "It is a tradition that has been going on for generations and I hope to continue it for generations to come," added the 27-year-old.

Melissa Leong, who graduated from an Australian university, said: "It is true that you do not treasure what you have until it is gone," she said.

"Before leaving Brunei, I never really pay attention to such festivals but then I moved to Sydney for six years. Over there every Chinese tradition makes you miss home," said Leong, adding that she was always anions of her friends who returned to their homeland to celebrate such festivities.

She explained that mooncakes are readily available in Sydney, which made her realise that it was not the food she missed, but indeed her family and friends. 'This is why after returning, I am making a big deal out of all festivities to get as many of my family and friends together."

A 48-year-old mother of two said that her family does not really celebrate the festival. 9b us, it is really not that special. We are already very close to each other, so I don't think we see the Mooncake Festival as a catalyst to further strengthen our relationships," said the woman who declined to be named.

"We don't really celebrate it. We might just eat out and have a good dinner but nothing extravagant," she said.

It was also observed that the Mooncake Festival has transcended racial barriers as halal mooncakes are also now available. A 32-year-old house-wife who requested to be known as Khadijah said she has always bought mooncakes for her children even though she does not know anything about the festival.

"They love it, especially the snow skin mooncakes. They hassle me to buy them every time they are on sale Khadijah said that she has seen an increase of variations in mooncakes over the years. "I remember eating my fast one which was filled with red bean paste. Now you see so many different kinds and flavours being sold here."

The Mooncake Festival, or also known as Mid-Autumn Festival, is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth Lunar month of the Chinese calendar, is associated with many legends.

A story spoke of the use of mooncakes with embedded messages by 14th-century Chinese patriots to overthrow the tyrannical Mongul rulers of the Yuan Dynasty (1280-1369). The patriots ordered the baking of special cakes with hidden messages of a rebellion. On the night of the Moon Festival, the rebels overthrew the Monguls and went on to establish the Ming Dynasty.

Another legend describes how Chang Er, also known as Lady Moon, flew to the moon on the 15th day of the eighth Lunar month where she became the Moon Goddess. It is said that she still lives there with a rabbit and a cassia nee.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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