Soon this time of festivities ends and people look back at the year. Seeing it as a success, a loss or just as is. A lot has happened this year both good and not so good. I was lucky that bad did not make it this year to my door (as far as I know). As usual the world did not end at least two times. The abuse of the calender that the Mayans stopped using before they knew that there was something Spanish, Dutch or a horse is over.
As this season of festivities ends and we are full of Christmas, Sinterklaas and Halloween and before our limbs are blown of by fireworks lets look back at a festivity that took place a little earlier this year.
Entrance to China Town The Hague
Moonfestival
The moon festival goes under different names, but is basically the Chinese harvest festival. This year I went to the festivities that were organized in The Hague. A week late (29-9), but who cares.
The festivities were quite simple there was a small Asian market, a square with booths where several restaurants sold food. A tent with workshops and a podium for things that you can do on a podium. And of course a lantern parade with lions and dragons.
Unfortunately I did not have much time. It should be forbidden to organize more than one interesting event on one day.
Entrance to festival
The food square
Same square
More of the same square
Workshop tents
Dragons
More Dragon
Together
Something in the air
And tea of course
What is an Asian festival without tea? I had to stretch the time that I could stay at the festival quite a bit, but it was rewarded. I was lucky and honoured to be a guest at the first tea ceremony of the day. The ceremony was held by people from the Fo Guang Shan Temple in Amsterdam. It was a Chinese style Cong fu cha ceremony serving some Ali Shan tea. As said I was lucky and honoured to be one of the 6 participants (and only male) of the ceremony. So no pictures of the ceremony itself, but the experience and feeling remain in my heart and mind. Including the person with the microphone that explained what happened to the public.
Tea ceremony with host
Loot
So next time you have a cup of tea toast it on the moon the companion of the planet we live on and without whom the world would have been a very different place.
A funny, healthy and teaish change of calender festivity.
The China
Looks like a fun day out.
nice photos! looks like a great day you had.
Yes the day was quite good. Too bad I had other obligations in afternoon and evening. But then again it might be good because I could not stay till the end.