While the iconic mooncake often takes center stage during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the celebration also lies in its abundance of symbolic festival food. More than just sweet treats, these foods, particularly fruits like pears and pomelos, hold deep cultural meanings that connect us to a rich heritage of gratitude and togetherness.
What is the Mid-Autumn Festival?
The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, has its origins in ancient Chinese culture as a celebration of the harvest. Historically, it was a time for farmers to give thanks for a bountiful harvest and to worship the moon, a symbol of fertility and abundance.
Over time, the festival evolved into an occasion for family reunions. The round shape of the full moon represents completeness and togetherness, making it the perfect backdrop for families to gather and enjoy a meal in gratitude for the year's bounty.
Why Food is Central to the Celebration
Sharing food strengthens family bonds and reinforces the festival’s theme of unity. In fact, a wide variety of fresh, seasonal fruits are traditionally displayed and shared during the Mid-Autumn Festival as they also offer wishes for blessings and abundance.
For those looking to fill their dinner table with a variety of these fruits, The First Fruits’ omakase fruit gift box has got you covered. Each box contains a curated selection of at least 10 different types of the best fruits of the season, ensuring your Mid-Autumn celebration is full of hearty, healthy, and vibrant produce for everyone to enjoy.
What Food to Eat During The Mid-Autumn Festival?
Eating food, especially fruits, during this time is a cherished tradition that carries special wishes and blessings for the coming year, while also offering a chance to enjoy nature's seasonal bounty.
1. Pomelo: The Fruit of Reunion and Protection
There are several reasons why people eat pomelos during the Mid-Autumn Festival. One is that its large, round shape represents the full moon and family unity. Another is that the word for pomelo does sound similar to “blessing” in Chinese, which makes it a wish for good fortune and prosperity.
The sound also links to a phrase for "family members away from home." Therefore, eating pomelo symbolizes the return of loved ones and a family reunion. Lastly, it’s also believed that eating pomelo during this time can ward off bad luck and invite blessings for the year ahead.
As a classic festival food, you can serve pomelo as fresh wedges on a fruit platter. Its high acidity makes it a refreshing palate cleanser after enjoying a rich mooncake. Plus, pomelo is rich in vitamin C, making it a great source of antioxidants that can protect your body and help keep your immune system strong.
2. Pear: The Symbol of Peace and Harmony
The Chinese word for pear sounds like “separation” in Chinese, but the tradition of eating, gifting, and sharing the fruit during the festival intentionally flips this meaning into a wish for togetherness, peace, and harmony.
Pears are also considered a cooling fruit in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which helps to balance the body's heat from consuming rich baked goods during the festival. For an easy serving idea, you can enjoy chilled slices or prepare poached pears with honey.
3. Pomegranate: Prosperity and Fertility in Every Seed
With its jewel-like seeds packed tightly inside, the pomegranate is considered a representation of prosperity and fertility. The hundreds of seeds inside symbolize many descendants and an abundance of blessings for the family.
The fruit is eaten, particularly by married women hoping to have children, as a way to pray for a baby. Beyond that, pomegranates are also a traditional offering when worshipping the moon, with prayers for long life, reunion, and good fortune.
Pomegranates are also a great source of antioxidants. According to research, these can help protect your heart from the common causes of heart disease, such as high blood pressure and the buildup of cholesterol and fats in your arteries.
To enjoy the fruit, simply cut it open and pull apart the skin to get to the delicious, edible seeds inside.
4. Watermelon: A Cool, Festive Crowd-Pleaser
Like the moon and mooncakes, the watermelon’s perfectly round shape is a sign of completeness and family unity. Its seeds, meanwhile, also symbolize fertility just like the pomegranate.
The watermelon’s sweet, juicy red flesh is a popular and refreshing treat, especially in Singapore's warm climate. For a fun serving tip, you can cut the watermelon into festive shapes or even carve the peel into lantern-like patterns to add to your decor.
5. Pumpkin: The Humble Harvest Treasure
In ancient China, pumpkins were a more accessible alternative to expensive mooncakes to show gratitude for the harvest and a wish for abundance. Then, its association with good health comes from a legend in which a daughter from a poor family found a melon and prepared it for two family members who were sick. The meal miraculously helped them recover, and since then, pumpkins have been believed to bring good health and wealth.
Beyond its meaning, the pumpkin also has wholesome benefits for your body. It's packed with fiber, which can help with digestion and make you feel full for longer, and carotenes to help strengthen your immunity against infections and viruses.
For a delicious recipe to add to your Mid-Autumn Festival spread, try making a chilled pumpkin soup with coconut milk and serving it as an alternative to rich desserts.
Make This Mid-Autumn Festival Meaningful with The First Fruits
This year, make your Mid-Autumn Festival truly special by sharing the beauty and meaning of these fruits. The First Fruits offers curated, premium fruit baskets with deep cultural significance and well wishes for health, happiness, and good fortune.
Our elegant packaging is perfect for gifting during family visits, and our commitment to freshness ensures you or your recipients receive only the best produce of the season. Plus, take the stress out of your preparations with the convenience of our fresh fruit gift basket delivery service.
Ready to celebrate with meaningful traditions? Order a fruit basket online today and share the spirit of the Mid-Autumn Festival.