Once Again, We Celebrate the Moon

Okanagan Chinese Canadian Association [OCCA] today announced the community organization will host 2012 Moon Festival on September 28, 2012, from 6-9pm at the Rutland Centennial Hall located at 180 Rutland Road North, Kelowna. This is its second Moon Festival in the Okanagan and OCCA partners with Okanagan Korean Culture and Knowledge Society [OKCK], Intercultural Society of Central Okanagan [ISCO], City of Kelowna, and Citizenship and Immigration Canada for this event this year.

Admission is free for everyone and the event will feature free Chinese fortune cookies, moon-storytelling contest for children to win a moon cake, stage performance including dancing, singing and poem reading with subject of moon, Chinese and Korean cultural displays, games, quiz and other activities, ethnic food booths, moon cake sampling and sales, and more.

Moon Festival is the day that the moon becomes the biggest and roundest of the year and one of the most important Chinese holidays. Also, Koreans celebrate the same day, called Chuseok or Hangawi to share the richness of new harvests with family and friends while watching the full moon.

The actual day you can see the full moon this year is Sunday, September 30th, 2012. Look up and check-out the breath-taking bright full moon that’s hanging low in the dark twinkling skies. This night marks the 15th day of the 8th month (the 8th full moon) in the year of dragon according to the ancient Chinese lunar calendar.

We would like to share cultures, traditions and stories about the moon with all other communities. Come and join us for moon gazing!

If you’d like more information about this event, or to schedule an interview, please call Jin Park at 250-864-0820 or at jinparkm@gmail.com