Come celebrate the Moon Festival, also known as Mid-Autumn Festival or Mooncake or Zhongqiu Festival, at Virtual Asia sim on Sept. 30, 2012. The event is held the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar, which is September or early October in the Gregorian calendar when the moon is at its maximum brightness and roundness for the entire year parallel to the autumnal equinox of the solar calendar. It is a popular harvest festival celebrated by Chinese and Vietnamese people. It is celebrated differently in other countries and is also known as Lantern festival in Malaysia, Singapore, and in the Philippines.
THE LEGEND
There are many variants and adaptations of the legend of Chang’e that frequently contradict each other. However, most versions of the legend involve some variation of the following elements: Houyi, the Archer, an emperor, either benevolent or malevolent, and an elixir of life.
One version of the legend states that Houyi was an immortal and Chang’e was a beautiful young girl, working in the palace of the Jade Emperor (the Emperor of Heaven, as an attendant to the Queen Mother of the West (the Jade Emperor’s wife). Houyi aroused the jealousy of the other immortals, who then slandered him before the Jade Emperor. Houyi and his wife, Chang’e, were subsequently banished from heaven. They were forced to live on Earth. Houyi had to hunt to survive and became a skilled and famous archer.
At that time, there were ten suns, in the form of three-legged birds, residing in a mulberry tree in the eastern sea. Each day one of the sun birds would have to travel around the world on a carriage, driven by Xihe, the ‘mother’ of the suns. One day, all ten of the suns circled together, causing the Earth to burn. Emperor Yao, the Emperor of China, commanded Houyi to use his archery skill to shoot down all but one of the suns. Upon completion of his task, the Emperor rewarded Houyi with a pill that granted eternal life. Emperor Yao advised Houyi not to swallow the pill immediately but instead to prepare himself by praying and fasting for a year before taking it. Houyi took the pill home and hid it under a rafter. One day, Houyi was summoned away again by Emperor Yao. During her husband’s absence, Chang’e, noticed a white beam of light beckoning from the rafters, and discovered the pill. Chang’e swallowed it and immediately found that she could fly. Houyi returned home, realizing what had happened he began to reprimand his wife. Chang’e escaped by flying out the window into the sky.
Houyi pursued her halfway across the heavens but was forced to return to Earth because of strong winds. Chang’e reached the moon, where she coughed up part of the pill. Chang’e commanded the hare that lived on the moon to make another pill. Chang’e would then be able to return to Earth and her husband.
The legend states that the hare is still pounding herbs, trying to make the pill. Houyi built himself a palace in the sun, representing “Yang” (the male principle), in contrast to Chang’e's home on the moon which represents “Yin” (the female principle). Once a year, on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Houyi visits his wife. That is the reason why the moon is very full and beautiful on that night.
COME CELEBRATE
There will be a hunt and cart sale that will start this coming Sunday, Sept. 30th and will run until Oct. 6th. These cart sales will feature items from over 20 designers for L99 or less. The Hunt and cart sale is organized by local VA resident, Margaux Dufaux. In part of the celebration, there will be live performances and a fan dance among others.
Virtual Asia Moon Festival Cart Sale And Hunt Sept. 30-Oct. 6, 2012
FASHION SHOW
Starting off the festivities, there will be a fashion show put on by Kabuki Boutique at 2PM SLT on Sunday, Sept. 30. The show will feature Harajuku styles sponsored by Chica Boom, Sassy!, blackLiquid, BSD Design Studio, and 1Hundred.
Kabuki Boutique Presents VA Moon Festival Fashion Show Sept 30, Sun. at 2pm SLT
Show Producer/Builder/Choreographer – blackLiquid Tokyoska
Chat Host – Tymon Alexander
DJ – Kiana Lexanstar
Models: Ashia Denimore, blackLiquid Tokyoska, Ewan Crumb, Gig1 Resident (Sera Ginger), Mariella Spitteler, and Miele Tarantal.
Get here early before the sim fills up. Save this Landmark
SLURL: Virtual Asia Sim - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/MaxStudio/108/96/4000
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