In Chinese, we often cite this timeless words of the poet Su Shi (1076) during the Mid-Autumn Festival: “但愿人长久, 千里共婵娟.” Though we may be far apart, I wish you lasting health and happiness. As we gaze upon the same moon tonight, may its radiant light unite our hearts across the distance.
This year, the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival falls on Monday, October 6, the 15th day of the 8th month in the lunar calendar. Traditionally, this is believed to be the night when the moon is at its fullest and brightest, aligning with the harvest season in the heart of autumn. Across Asia, the festival has long been a time for families to gather, to celebrate the beauty of the season, and to express gratitude for the love, joy, and care we share with one another.
Our 2025–2026 Chinese Program Leadership Team would like to take this opportunity to share our heartfelt gratitude for your continued support. Your trust and support has helped us learn, grow, and see the beauty of becoming our better selves. It truly feels like a harvest of growth and community for us.
During one of our regular planning meetings as a whole team, as we prepared learning activities and celebrations for our students, we found ourselves sharing fond memories of Mid-Autumn traditions from our own childhoods. In our classrooms, students taste mooncakes, hear the stories of the Mid-Autumn Festival, and explore the language and culture around this cherished holiday. At lunchtime, our team continued the conversation, reflecting on how this festival was celebrated in our hometowns across Asia. The discussion was so lively and heartwarming that we would like to share a few snapshots with you:
Olivia Wu (Chinese Program Manager): “In the town where I grew up in Taiwan, my whole family gathered together to prepare a big barbecue dinner. The special part of the tradition is that we never ate inside the house—neighbors set up barbecues in front of their homes or on their balconies, sharing food and conversation. Afterward, under the moonlight, we enjoyed mooncakes and pomelos (yòuzi).”
Annie Liu (3rd–5th Grade Level Leader): “I grew up in a small town in Guangdong with Hakka culture. My family always prepared a large dinner and invited relatives to gather together. We ate pomelos, the main fruit of the season in my hometown, as it was harvest time. Children lit lanterns under the bright autumn moon, creating a joyful and colorful scene.”
Wei Qian (Chinese Program Leadership Liaison): “In Shanghai, Mid-Autumn Festival was always celebrated with a family feast. At dinner, we drank osmanthus wine and ate hairy crab, while the fragrance of blooming osmanthus flowers filled the air under the brilliant moonlight.”
Though the foods and customs vary, the heart of the Mid-Autumn Festival remains the same: cherishing time with family, finding joy in the harvest, and appreciating the moon’s beauty as it lights up this special season. We wish you and your family a joyous Mid-Autumn Festival filled with warmth, gratitude, and togetherness!
Warmly,
Chinese Program Leadership Team
Hsiaoying Chen, Olivia Wu, Ya Ju Tsai, Teresa Shyu, Annie Liu, Ya-Ching Hsu-Kelkis, Wei Qian