Hot spot of the week: ChinaGETTY IMAGES People launch Kongming laterns in celebration of the Mid-autumn festival in China. Celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month in the traditional Eastern Lunar Calendar, the Mid-Autumn (aka Moon or Mooncake) festival is the second largest in China after Chinese New Year. Some say the tradition is a homage to the Chinese moon goddess Chang'e who, legend has it, ascended to the moon after overdosing on an elixir of life meant for her husband, who had shot nine extra suns out of the sky. Others say it dates back more than 3000 years to the Shang Dynasty, when emperors worshipped the moon to encourage a good harvest. The festival is also celebrated in other parts of Asia with large Chinese populations, such as Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Source: Stuff September 07, 2018 16:52 UTC