By William Suseno
A 5,000 year old tradition was on show when the the Perth Chinese Catholic Community celebrated the Mid-Autumn (Zhong Qiu) Festival on 19 September after the 4pm Sunday Mass at Holy Family Church in Como.
PCCC chaplain Fr Wang HaiBo explained that since 5,000 years ago, Chinese had understood appreciating the universe and continuity of life; hence, in every season, the Chinese celebrated their appreciation with an important festival:
l In Spring season to celebrate by praying to the Sun;
l In Summer season to celebrate by praying to the Earth;
l In Autumn season to celebrate by praying to the Moon; and
l In Winter season to celebrate by praying to the Sky.
Therefore, there are four important celebrations in one year of the Chinese calendar:
Chun Jie – New Year;
Qing Ming – Praying to the ancestors by visiting the cemetery;
Duan Wu – Praying in memory of the Patriot QuYuan (Dragon Boat Festival);
Zhong Qiu – Gathering for the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese Lunar Calendar, which fell on 22 September this year. It is when the moon is supposedly at its fullest and roundest.
Traditionally, on the evening of a Mid-Autumn Festival, families stay up late and get together eating mooncakes and gazing at the moon, while the children are busy making and happily playing with lanterns.
When PCCC celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival on 19 September, the Mass Procession began with children carrying lanterns, with one of the lanterns offered as a gift to the Altar as a symbolic gesture.
Perth Archdiocesan Vicar for Migrants Fr Blasco Fonseca who concelebrated the Mass had just returned from a month’s visit to mainland China and is aware of the fast development of Catholic churches in mainland China as well as the Chinese culture.
As seen in the picture, Fr Blasco and Fr Wang HaiBo were admiring the lanterns that were hung in the foyer of the Holy Family Church. At the bottom of each lantern there is writing to wish luck and prosperity to the people.
The celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival continued with the astounding songs and sounds of the Chinese traditional musical instruments, Hua Yue Tuan, played by a remarkable group of talented musicians from Chung Hua. Everyone was also entertained by a variety of games such as the guessing games of Chinese Characters, and a quiz where people need to finish off a quote from famous poets in Tang and Song Dynasties.
Dinner and mooncakes were also provided by the PCCC Committee and this joyous celebration finished around 7.45pm.