Amanda “Miss Panda” Hsiung-Blodgett is the creator of the “Let’s
Learn Mandarin Chinese with Miss Panda!” audio albums for young
children. She is raising her two children to be bilingual in
Mandarin Chinese and English. Follow her bilingual adventure
with her children at Facebook and www.MissPandaChinese.com where
parents and teachers can find Mandarin Chinese learning
resources. Today, Miss Panda tells us all about the Mid-Autumn
Festival! The origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival The Chinese Mid-
Autumn Festival or “Zhōng Qiū Jié” (中秋節) occurs on the 15th day
of the eighth lunar month each year (falling in September or
October on our familiar solar calendar). Because this holiday is
based on the lunar calendar, where it falls on the solar
calendar varies from year to year. For example, in 2012 the Mid-
Autumn Festival falls on September 30th. In 2013, however, it
will be on September 19th. As the festival is celebrated at the
midpoint of the lunar month (also the middle of autumn), it is
called the Mid-Autumn Fes