Join SF Chinatown Merchants Association for nonstop entertainment, food vendors, mooncakes, kids activities, lion dancing, and much more!

Origin of the Moon Festival

Along with the sun, the moon has long been an object of human curiosity and worship. It is probable that sun and moon were early held to be deities and that they were the first visible objects of worship, according to the book Sketches of the History of Man.

To the most ancient ancestors of the Chinese, the sun and the moon were considered the chief objects of veneration, according to records dating to the Han dynasty emperor Wu Di (157-87 B.C.).

In ancient Asian mythology, there is a strong relationship between the moon and water. The moon is said to regulate reservoirs and supplies of water. There is a suggestion that the moon produces fertility and freshness in the soil. The moon’s role in bountiful harvests is widely recognized during autumns around the world.

In Chinese celestial cosmology, the moon represents the female principle, or yin. During ancient autumn Moon Festivals, women took center stage because the moon is considered feminine.

The enduring legend of the Moon Goddess, Chang E (Chang E in other transliterations), reflects the feminine principle of yin, as opposed to the masculine principle of yang, which is symbolized by the sun.

San Francisco Chinatown had been celebrating the Moon Festival for over 30 years. Come and participate in this year’s festivities with SF Chinatown Merchants Association!

It is not necessary to RSVP, but you can sign up via Eventbrite for a chance to enter a raffle for gift certificates to local small businesses in Chinatown RSVP to enter the free raffle

Time and Location: 11:00 am to 5:00 pm, Grant Avenue between California and Broadway, Chinatown, SF

Cost: FREE

Details: https://www.moonfestival.org/

Disclaimer: Please double-check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are posted to our website, and errors do occur.