The Mid-Autumn Festival
falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, or for this year, on September 28. This festival, also
called the Moon or Mooncake Festival, dates back to when emperors offered
sacrifices to the moon in autumn (and to the sun in spring). Later, the festival was expanded to include
the common people who would enjoy expressing their thoughts, reciting poetry,
or singing under the light of the full moon. (Source: http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/Festivals/78311.htm).
These days, it’s seen as a time to enjoy gathering
with family and friends. Thanks to the ICB
Club, ICB students and friends were able to do just that at the annual Mid-Autumn
Festival Banquet. The majority of ICB
students, American students who once studied in China, Professor Harry Archer
from the Communication Department, and some host family members of the International
Students, Inc. (ISI) joined together on the beautiful moonlit night to celebrate.
While Chinese students were filling their plates,
some familiar American faces appeared at the banquet. Professor Harry Archer
brought the festival greeting from the Communication Department. “I am so glad
to see more and more Chinese students coming to Denver and enjoying their lives
here,” Professor Archer expressed, “Besides, as a foreigner from Britain, I feel
a touch of homesickness by the festival’s atmosphere.” Kelsey Evans, the first
American student to study at ICB, also came to meet with her good friends.
After dinner, Kelsey, fellow study abroad student, Alex Hunter Lee, and colleague
from the Office of Global Education, Dan Smafield, actively joined in
interesting games, such as musical chairs, with their Chinese friends.
While enjoying the great time, some Chinese
students began to feel homesick in this special night traditional for gathering
with family in China. “It was the first time I celebrated the Mid-Autumn
Festival without my family,” said junior student Zhengyin Zhu, “Though
everything here is exciting for me, I miss my family, and the life at CAU.”
Some students were so moved that they had already made plans to go home during
the winter break. “I was so longing for family that I just booked the flight
home several days ago,” the junior student Zhiqing Xu. Although we are far away
from our families, as the famous Chinese poet, Jiuling Zhang, says, “the moon
is climbing up above the sea, and people are sharing the same wonderful time at
the same moment.”
The entire event lasted about two hours. Over 40
people participated in this traditional Chinese reunion. “I did not realize
there were so many people coming tonight,” Xianghan Ma, the vice president of
ICB Club excitedly exclaimed, “I so appreciated that every ICB member helped me
to organize the whole event and to make detailed arrangements. Thanks to everyone
for coming.”
At the end of the banquet, President Chu expressed
that there would be more interesting activities arranged by the ICB Club. And
she hoped that more and more students, not only who are from the ICB program,
but also locals, especially Americans who are interested in the Chinese culture,
can expressed themselves during further events.