the moon festival, always celebrated on august 15 of the lunar calendar, is one of the most traditional of chinese holiday.

　　it is several hundred years old and many beautiful tales about it have been handed down from generation to generation. on this day we eat a special kind of pastry called "moon cake"—it represents the moon and also means family reunion. it has long been a practice in our family to get together for a small moonlight party at the new park on the evening of august 15. cousins and some friends sometimes join us.

　　sitting or lying on the soft grass, some of us chat happily and others listen to music. and amidst shouts and laughter of children chasing around excitedly, i sit quietly at a corner watching the bright, beautiful moon.