June 6, 2025 | Vol. 54, Issue 11

The only bilingual Chinese-English Newspaper in New England

August Moon Festival

Chinatown Bakeries Keep August Moon Tradition Alive

The mid-autumn festival, also known as the August Moon festival, is often celebrated with mooncakes – round pastries with sweet or savory fillings that symbolize the full moon. But the tradition of hand crafting the delicacy is slowly changing, say some pastry chefs, who are keeping the tradition alive locally.“The most difficult part of making mooncakes is cooking the syrup, which needs to be prepared a month in advance. It’s a very skillful process. Traditional hand-made mooncakes are the most […]

What August Moon Means to Me:

Three Community Leaders Reflect on the Summer Celebration Editor note: It’s that time of the year, where the August Moon Festival serves as a reminder for all of us that the greatest riches are within our grasp. We cherish friends, embrace family, give grateful thanks, and offer humble prayers for a bountiful future. The August Moon Festival is a rich tradition that harkens back to simpler times while also adapting to changing environments and our constantly evolving sometimes difficult days. […]

August Moon Festival: Celebrating the Brightest and Fullest Moon of the Year

Every year, millions across China and the Chinese diaspora gather to celebrate the August Moon Festival. In Chinese culture, the festival is one of the most important occasions, second only to Lunar New Year. Dating back over 3,000 years, the festival is traditionally held on the 15th day of the 8th month on the Chinese Lunar Calendar. It is meant to commemorate the brightest and fullest moon of the year. August Moon Festival, or the Mid-Autumn Festival, is a celebration […]

Sharing Mooncakes and Love at Mid-Autumn Festival  

There are different shapes of mooncakes with different stuffings and skins. Usually, the skin is made of wheat powder, but now there are also ice skins made of sticky rice powder. The stuffing of mooncakes varies depending on the cities and provinces: Beijing style, Jiangsu style, Ningbo style, Shanghai style, Hong Kong style. In northern and southern China, the stuffing of the mooncakes is usually sweet, made of ingredients like sugar, red beans, and lotus seed. In the middle region, […]

CCBA Presents the 52nd Annual Chinatown August Moon Festival

Photos from the 52nd Annual August Moon Festival, August 14, 2022 at Phillips Square in Chinatown, sponsored by the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England. Boston officials, including Mayor Michelle Wu and Police Superintendent James K. Chin, along with the New England Kung Fu Dance Association and the Boston Chinese Folk dance group, welcomed the coming fall season with a festival of joy and health. From all of us here at Sampan to all of you in Boston and beyond, best […]

person wearing foo dog costume

The August Moon Festival 2022: What’s Happening, Where, and When

The Chinese August Moon festival is traditionally celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar. It is believed that the roundness of the moon represents the reunion of family in Chinese minds. For over 2000 years the usually three day celebration has been a time for a post-Autumn harvest celebration giving thanks to the gods for the blessings of hard work and family. Foods served include mooncakes, pumpkin, river snails, taro, wine fermented with […]

Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival: Behind the Scenes

Nestled in the history of ancient China lies the origins of the Dragon Boat Festival. Filled with food, wonderful cultural traditions, and inspiring, team-oriented races, today’s Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Races and Festival offer more than entertainment. It connects people and draws them into a different culture.  Strong leaders and advocates have worked to bring not only representation, but appreciation of Asian culture in America.  Volunteer led and volunteer based, the leaders of  Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival […]

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