On September 14 and 15, São Paulo will host the Chinese Moon Festival, also known as the ‘Mid-Autumn Festival’. The festival has existed in China for over three thousand years and is an event of great importance in the local culture that has spread around the world due to its expatriates. And this year, the São Paulo version of the festival will have something new: Brazil’s largest lion dance.
The festival will take place on Rua 25 de Março and admission is free. It will be an opportunity to get to know the ancient Chinese culture, so keep an eye on the timetable: Saturday from 10am to 9pm, and Sunday from 10am to 6pm. Don’t miss out!
Chinese Moon Festival brings ancient culture to SP
The Chinese Moon Festival is promoted by the Chinese community in São Paulo, which seeks to present its culture and value it on Brazilian soil.
It will be a true immersion in the traditions and customs of the people of China. There will be artistic performances, martial arts demonstrations and folk dances, as well as workshops in Chinese painting, origami, Chinese calligraphy and other free options.
Another typical highlight of the festivities in China that will be at the Chinese Moon Festival are the colored lanterns. These traditional ornaments will form an enchanting and enveloping atmosphere, transporting visitors to the festive and magical atmosphere of the ancient event.
In addition, the event will have plenty of typical cuisine. One option will be the famous mooncakes – made with glutinous rice dough and filled with sesame seed paste, red bean paste or egg paste -, which are a symbol of the festival.
Brazil’s largest lion dance
The Chinese Moon Festival is also known as the ‘Mid-Autumn Festival’, because it takes place on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar.
This is a special date for Chinese traditions and other Asian peoples, as it marks the arrival of fall and the October harvest. For this reason, the festival is familiar and full of decorations with colored lanterns, as well as the moon cake, music and the famous lion dance.
In Chinese culture, this dance represents prosperity, good luck and courage, chasing away evil spirits and attracting fortune. And in September, São Paulo residents will be able to watch the biggest lion dance in Brazil! There will be 50 performances in total to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations between Brazil and China.
