This September 29^th Chinese in America will celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival,  held during the full moon on the 15^th moon day of the 8^th lunar month. In the Chinese time zone celebrations will be on September 30^th. This holiday has been celebrated for over 3,000 years and, after Spring Festival, is considered the second most important holiday of the year. Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the few reunion holidays for Chinese families. On this day, Chinese family members will stay together, admire the full moon and eat mooncakes.

The holiday traces back to moon worship in ancient times, but the tradition of eating mooncakes, now a staple of the celebration, is a little more modern. Legend has it that at the end of the Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368, a dynasty ruled by the Mongols), the Han people's army wanted to overthrow the rule of Mongols. They planned an uprising, but they had no way to inform every Han people who wanted to join them without being discovered by the Mongols. One day, the military counselor of the Han people's army, Liu Bowen, thought out a stratagem related to mooncakes. Liu Bowen asked his soldiers to spread the rumor that there would be a serious disease in winter and eating mooncakes was the only way to cure the disease. He then asked soldiers to write "uprising, on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival" on slips of paper, put them into mooncakes and then sell them to common Han people. When the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival came a huge uprising broke out. From then on, people have eaten mooncakes every Mid-Autumn Festival to commemorate the uprising.

Today typical Chinese mooncakes are round in shape, and measure around 4 inches in diameter and 2 inches in thickness. Most mooncakes consist of a thin tender skin enveloping a sweet, dense filling. Mooncakes are usually eaten in small wedges shared by family members. They are generally served with Chinese tea, and very rarely, mooncakes are served steamed or fried.

Mooncakes are the must-eat food for the Mid-Autumn Festival. It was customary for woman to prepare mooncakes at home when the festival was approaching. However, as the production is labor-intensive and they are widely available in markets, very few people make them at home nowadays. The price of mooncakes usually ranges from $ 10 (70 yuan) to $ 50 (340 yuan) for a box of four. However, very expensive mooncakes have appeared recently with some reaching thousands of yuan for a box.

The fillings of mooncakes vary by region and tradition. Some common flavors include:

Lotus seed paste (莲蓉, lían róng): It is made from dried lotus seeds. Lotus seed paste is considered by some people the most delicious and luxurious filling for mooncakes.

Sweet bean paste (豆沙, dòu shā): There are several types of sweet bean paste: mung bean paste, red bean paste and black bean potato paste. Red bean paste is the most commonly used filling for mooncakes.

Some regional styles include:

Cantonese-style mooncakes

Cantonese-style mooncakes originate from South China's Guangdong Province. The ingredients used in the fillings are various, which reflects the Guangdong people's adventurous nature in eating.  The most used ingredients include lotus seed paste, melon seed paste, ham, chicken, duck, roast pork, mushrooms, and egg yolks. Cantonese-style mooncakes taste sweet.

Beijing-style mooncakes

This style is the typical variation in North China. It originated in Beijing and Tianjin. It features the delicate use of sweetness, moderate allotment of skin and fillings, and meticulous decoration. The common proportion of skin and fillings for Beijing-style mooncakes is 4:6. 

Modern mooncakes have taken on all kinds of unusual and luxurious flavors:

Ice cream mooncakes: These are made of ice cream, and made to look like mooncakes. They have become increasingly popular in recent years among young people and kids.

Seafood mooncakes: These are the most expensive mooncakes. They feature a fresh and slightly salty flavor. Commonly used fillings include: abalone, shark fin and dried purple seaweed.

Health food mooncakes: Health food mooncakes are a style of cake that is meant to benefit people's health. They are made of many healthy ingredients such as ginseng, calcium, medicated food and other things that are good for health.

Mooncakes are easy to find in Boston, especially if you’re in Chinatown. We recommend the Super 88 in Allston, or if you go down to Chinatown Hing Shing Pastry or Ho Yuen Bakery. Throughout Chinatown on the weekend of the 29^th the residents will be celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival. Invite your visitor to share this cultural event with you, and remember to share your stories with Global Immersions!  

Reblogged from: Chinahighlights.com, Chineseforturecalendar.com  

In preparation for our upcoming group of Taiwanese visitors attending TALK Language School, we’ve been thinking a lot about Taiwanese foods. A world apart from the lo mein or sushi available on nearly every block, Taiwanese food is an often underrated slice of Asian cuisine. In Taiwan the idea is to eat small and often, and street side “boa’s” dedicated to snacking are always busy. From the easily found “bubble tea” to the more rare “stinky tofu,” Taiwanese food has a lot to offer. Here are some of the crowd favorites:

Braised pork rice (滷肉飯)

Taiwanese love their lurou fan, so much so that the capital city of Taipei launched a “braised pork rice is ours” campaign last year after Michelin’s Green Guide Taiwan claimed that the dish is from Shandong Province in mainland China. A good bowl of lurou fan has finely chopped, not quite minced, pork belly, slow-cooked in aromatic soy sauce with five spices. There should be an ample amount of fattiness, in which lies the magic.

The meat is spooned over hot rice.  

A little sweet, a little salty, the braised pork rice is comfort food perfected.

Oyster omelet (蚵仔煎)

Here's a snack that really showcases the tastes of Taiwan. You've got something from the sea and something from the soil.

The eggs are the perfect foil for the little oysters easily found around the island, while sweet potato starch is added to give the whole thing a gooey chewiness -- a signature Taiwan food texture.

No wonder it was voted best snack to represent the island in a poll of 1,000 Taiwanese by Global Views Monthly in 2007.

Bubble tea (珍珠奶茶)

Bubble tea is representative of the "QQ" food texture that Taiwanese love and has found a solid following in America as well. The cute-sounding phrase refers to something that is very chewy, just like the tapioca balls that are the "bubbles" in bubble tea.

It is said that this unique drink was invented out of boredom. Liu Han-Chieh threw some sweetened tapioca pudding into her iced Assam tea on a fateful day in 1988 and one of the greatest Taiwanese exports was born.

Bubble tea is easy to find in Boston. Try it out at Infusions Tea Spa (110 Brighton Ave), Lolicup (219 Quincy Ave) or Leisure Station (625 W Kendall St).

Stinky tofu (臭豆腐)

This is the world's best love-it-or-hate-it snack and Taiwan does it just right. 

The "fragrant" cube of bean curd is deep-fried and draped with sweet and spicy sauce. If you hold your nose, it looks and tastes just like a plain ol' piece of fried tofu, with a crisp casing and soft center like pudding. Breathe deeply and your nose will tell you another story.

Want to try these delicacies? Here are some top rated Taiwanese restaurants in Boston:

Taiwan Café, 34 Oxford St, Chinatown (617) 426-8181

Jo Jo TaiPei, 103 Brighton Ave, Allston (617) 254-8889

Gourmet Dumpling House, 52 Beach St, Chinatown (617) 338-6223

MuLan, 228 Broadway, Cambridge (Kendall/MIT) (617) 441-8812

For more information about Taiwanese food read “40 Taiwanese Foods We Can’t Live Without” by Hiufu Wong available at http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/eat/40-taiwanese-food-296093?hpt=hp_bn5

Sources:http://www.yelp.com/c/boston/taiwanese;  

http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/eat/40-taiwanese-food-296093?hpt=hp_bn5;

On the last Monday of every May, Americans across the country celebrate the federal holiday, Memorial Day. Originally observed to remember the fallen soldiers of the American Civil War, the holiday is now a day of remembrance for all fallen American soldiers in wars. 

Mother's Day has become a global holiday and while it is celebrated on many different days, countries including the United States, Japan, Germany, and Colombia celebrate it on the second Sunday in May, which is May 13th!

While spring festivals celebrated maternal goddesses during ancient Greek and Roman times, Mother's Day did not become an official holiday until May 10th, 1908 in the United States. It was founded by Anna Jarvis who campaigned for the creation of the holiday in remembrance of her recently deceased mother. 

In most Arab countries, Mother's Day is celebrated on March 21st. It was first introduced in Egypt in 1943 by journalist Mustafa Amin. The idea was overlooked at the time, but when Amin heard a story of a widowed mother who devoted her life to raising a son who eventually became a doctor, got married, and showed little affection to his mother, he began to push for its creation. By March 21st 1956, it was officially accepted as a holiday. 

Today, pink and red carnations pay tribute to mothers who are still alive, while white carnations pay tribute to those who have passed. 

How do you show your appreciation to your mothers? Have any suggestions? Let us know!

For those who are visitors, why not let your host mother know how appreciative you are of all she has done for you during your stay in Boston!

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother's_Day

http://www.mothersdaycentral.com/about-mothersday/history/

One hundred years ago, on April 20, 1912, The Boston Red Sox played their first official game in Fenway Park. In honor of that milestone, on April 19, the Red Sox welcome fans to an open house to celebrate Fenway Park’s centennial celebration. There will be historical artifacts, photographs, and banners on display throughout the park, following the "Fenway Park: A Living Museum" path. Visitors will also have a chance to meet Red Sox legends, and visit parts of the ballpark generally inaccessible to fans.

The Fenway Park Open House also includes:

• An opportunity for fans to explore 100 year old Fenway Park at their own pace

• Historical markers denote historic home runs, events, and spots within the park

• A display of the clubhouse that shows fans the mud that's rubbed on the baseballs, pine tar, rosin bag and other items that fans generally don't see during a visit to the park

• Old programs, tickets, chairs, blueprints and many other items of historic interest from Fenway Park's 100-year old history

• Autograph signings throughout the day

• An opportunity to walk the warning track, peek inside the Green Monster scoreboard and visit other spaces within the ballpark not normally available or accessible to fans

The next day, on April 20, the Red Sox will play the New York Yankees, the same team they played for the first official game in 1912, with both teams wearing historic uniforms.

For more information about the Fenway Park Open House, visit their website here.  We hope you enjoy the event!

April is the month that marks the beginning of spring in the Northern hemisphere. The etymology of "April" in Latin is aperire, which means "to open": the "opening" of trees and flowers. Boston's magnolia trees have blossomed considerably early this year and has been called one of the earliest blossoming in 140 years of record keeping. 

Many of you may be aware that Easter and Passover are coming up! But what other holidays are going on in April? Let's take a look!

Easter (Resurrection Day)

Easter is a Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christian's believe that Jesus Christ was resurrected from the death three days after his crucifixion, which is commemorated on Good Friday. It is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after March 21st. Traditionally, Saturday's are spent decorating Easter eggs and hunting for them with children on the following Sunday. Hot cross buns (spiced buns with a cross on top) are traditionally eaten on Good Friday and are a symbol for the Crucifixion. 

Passover

Passover is a Jewish holiday that is celebrated on the 15th day of the 7th month in the Jewish calender. This year, Passover begins Friday, April 6th and ends on Saturday, April 14th. Passover commemorates the story of Exodus, where ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt. The most important Passover tradition is the seder. During the seder the story of Exodus is retold, four cups of wine are to be had each representing an expression of deliverance, and partaking in eating symbolic foods on a seder plate. 

Golden Week

In Japan, Golden Week is a period consisting of four holidays. It begins on April 29th with Showa Day, which honors the birthday of the late Emperor Hirohito. May 3rd is Constitution Memorial Day, which commemorates the declaration of the 1947 Constitution of Japan. May 4th is celebrated with Greenery day and is set aside for nature appreciation. Commemorative plantings take place across the country. The final holiday is Children's Day, which lands on May 5th. The holiday respects and embraces children's personalities and to celebrate their happiness. On Children's Day, families hang koinobori's (carp streamers), which symbolize the determination and vigor of the carp overcoming obstacles to swim upstream. 

Earth Day

Earth Day is held every year worldwide on April 22nd. The United Nations even designated that day as International Mother Earth Day. This holiday is meant to increase awareness and appreciate our planet's natural environment. It was pioneered by John McConnell in 1969 and has since then gained an immense amount of support. Their are many traditions people around the world take part in to commemorate this holiday. There is planting a tree, picking up trash, recycling, and even hiking!

Do you know of any other holidays that occur in April? If so, please let us know!

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passover

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Day

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Week_(Japan)

On March 17^th every year, people throughout the world honor one of the most widely celebrated saints, Saint Patrick. Known as the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick’s Day represents not only Christian values, but also a secular celebration of Irish culture. St. Patrick’s Day is usually accompanied by shamrocks, Irish flags, Irish food and drink, and a hefty dose of the color green. Though St. Patrick’s Day is an official holiday in only a few places, it is widely celebrated by the Irish diaspora - and others – worldwide.

Ireland

Though St. Patrick’s Day has been a celebrated feast day since the ninth century, it became an official public holiday in 1903. The holiday remains largely religious, and is often associated with religious observance, festivals, and parades.

Argentina

Boasting the fifth largest Irish community in the world outside Ireland, Argentina celebrates Saint Patrick’s Day with street parties all night long. With over 50,000 people taking part in the celebrations, Argentineans dance and drink all night in their green clothes.

Canada

Since 1824, Montreal holds one of the longest-running Saint Patrick’s Day parades in North America. Though Saint Patrick’s Day is a holiday in only the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, many other groups have lobbied to make it an official national holiday in Canada.

Japan

Holding Asia’s largest Saint Patrick’s Day parade, the Tokyo parade, organized by the Irish Network Japan, has been going on since 1992. Today, parades are held in many locations across Japan, and go on throughout the entire month of March.

The United States   

Though Saint Patrick’s Day is not an official holiday in the US, it has been celebrated since the late eighteenth century. The day is largely a celebration of Irish and Irish-American culture, and features many parades, religious events, feasts, and displays of the color green. In Boston,  Saint Patrick's Day remains a huge day of celebration due to the large Irish population. With over 500,000 visitors each year, the Boston parade is not only the oldest St. Patrick's Day parade in the US, but also one of the largest. For more information about Saint Patrick's Day events in Boston, look here. 

Do you have Saint Patrick’s Day plans? Let us know! 

Sources:

timeanddate.com

boston.com/stpatricksday/

On Sunday, March 11, 2012, clocks in the United States (and many others throughout the world) are advanced one hour so that evenings have more sunlight in the warmer months of the year. First established in 1918, “Daylight Saving Time” allows for people to take advantage of sunlight later in the day, as well as encourage energy savings. As days become shorter again in fall and winter months, clocks are returned to “standard” time so that there is more sunlight in the mornings.

Although Daylight Saving Time has been around for nearly 100 years in the United States, there is still a good deal of controversy surrounding the practice. Many critics feel that Daylight Savings is not beneficial, or simply too complicated. Worldwide, many countries use Daylight Savings in order to conserve daylight; the days of change, however, often differ from country to country (most of Europe changes on the last Sunday in March, while much of Oceania changes on the first Sunday in April). Other countries, such as large portions of Africa and Asia have opted to stop using Daylight Savings Time, or have simply never used it at all.

In the US, Daylight Savings occurs on the second Sunday of March, and ends on first Sunday of November. Daylight Savings is easily remembered with the mnemonic device, “spring forward, fall back” to help people remember which direction to shift the clocks for each time period.

Sources:

The Patch

Washington Post