Photo of mooncakes

Asian Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration Giveaway

Case Western Reserve University students are invited to celebrate Asian Mid-Autumn Festival with a free celebration giveaway provided by the Center for International Affairs.

As safety measures related to COVID-19 prevent us from gathering for a large event this year, the center wants to make sure students are equipped with some festival traditions to celebrate the holiday.

On Thursday, Oct. 1, Center for International Affairs staff will hand out the Asian Mid-Autumn Festival giveaway items, which include free mooncakes and CWRU rabbit stress balls.

The giveaway will take place outside Tomlinson Hall from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., or as long as supplies last. Masks and social distancing measures will be required during pickup (for example, standing 6 ft. apart from anyone else picking up items).

The Asian Mid-Autumn Festival is a celebration of a successful harvest throughout much of Eastern Asia and is enjoyed by bringing together families and friends. It goes by many names, including Tet Trung Thu, Tsukimi and Chuseok. Traditions vary, but often include celebrating the harvest of rice and wheat by eating special desserts like mooncakes, sharing stories and hanging lanterns. The moon is an important part of the holiday, and it’s common for celebrations to take place at night to provide an opportunity to enjoy it. The rabbit is a popular symbol of the festival based on Chinese mythology.

The Center for International Affairs hopes to inspire that same holiday feeling on campus this year.

To learn more about the Asian Mid-Autumn Festival, visit the center’s website.