Mid Autumn Moon Festival at Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Vancouver

The Mid Autumn Moon Festival celebrates the harvest moon and families gather to eat mooncakes, light lanterns, listen to music and participate in many other cultural activities, here at the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Garden.  On Sunday, September 7, we toured every space, each lit up with candles and lanterns.  Every view of the garden is different: a pagoda, stone tiles, ponds, courtyards, rooms, and tiled roof against a skyline of new towers.  Everything and everyone is reflected in waters stirred by brilliantly colored Koi fish.  A mighty dragon waits to add a breathy fire to greet the moon.  Ceremonies in the garden surround us with incense and ritual and young children, especially are fascinated and drawn in.  Music by the Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble extends the magic of the evening.

Photos by Luke and Colleen