On the occasion of celebrating the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Mission of China to the EU and Embassy of China in Belgium organised a reception in Brussels on 25 September, showcasing some of the country’s traditional crafts, clothing and food.
It is my great pleasure to get together with all of you tonight to celebrate the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
H.E. Ambassador Fu Cong, Head of the Mission of China to the EU
“On behalf of the Chinese Mission to the European Union, I would like to express my warm welcome to all of you and extend my sincere thanks to people from various sectors who have long been committed to China-EU friendship and cooperation”, H.E. Ambassador Fu Cong, Head of THE Mission of China to the EU, opened the evening.
1. Mooncakes
Ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, or the Mooncake Festival, which this year will take place on 29 September, traditional mooncakes were served at the reception.
The traditional festival in Chinese culture is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, which is normally between mid-September and early October. The festival includes a variety of customs, such as making lanterns, worshipping the moon, reuniting with family, and making typical foods, especially the mooncakes.
Mooncakes are pastries that symbolize the full moon. People give mooncakes as gifts and serve them at family gatherings during the festival celebration. They can have sweet or savoury fillings and are primarily round, to resemble the shape of the moon, but sometimes they can also be square-shaped. Sometimes, they are stamped on top with the name of the filling. The most common fillings are lotus seed paste, red bean paste, salted egg yolks, nuts and lard. Some more modern versions might include chocolate, truffles, foie gras or ice cream.
2. Traditional Clothing
Traditional clothing from the period of the Sui-Tang Dynasties (581-907) until the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911) was also on display. Made out of a type of satin fabric, clothing used during the Tang Dynasty and its preceding periods had rounder and fuller patterns, while later periods showed a tendency towards more realistic patterns, expressing auspicious meanings such as good luck and prosperity.
3. Watermelon carving
Believed to have originated in Chiana during the Tang Dynasty, fruit carving is a popular art in parts of Asia, especially in China, Thailand and Japan. Watermelons are a common fruit for carving, especially in China, as their wider surface allows the creation of more intricate patterns.
Besides being used for traditional and cultural ceremonies, carved fruits are also used to decorate plates in regular households when guests are invited. The patterns can feature legendary creatures and animals, like dragons, or symbols that tell legends and stories, but can also be simpler, floral or geometrical patterns.
