On Sep. 9th , 2011, Confucius Classroom Munich ushered the 59th culture salon. With the approach of Mid-Autumn Festival, the theme was “Chinese Traditional Festival--- the Mid-Autumn Festival”, which was presented by Madam Jie Fang , the Chinese Director of Confucius Classroom Munich. Up to 80 people packed the auditorium, and more than twenty audience stood at the back of the auditorium, but also on the ground were filled with people interested in Chinese culture. In an atmosphere of joy, new and old friends celebrated the Chinese traditional festival together.

In nearly an hour's lecture, Madam Fang mainly introduced the meaning, history, legends and customs four aspects of the Mid-Autumn Festival. First, she illustrated that the traditional Chinese festivals varied in forms and were rich in content, and also they were an integral part of Chinese long history and culture. Then, Madam Fang explained the meaning of Mid-Autumn Festival and why Chinese people should celebrate it. Subsequently, the explanation was the long history of the Mid-Autumn Festival. When the audience was informed that the Mid-Autumn Festival had become popular since the Tang dynasty, which had nearly fifteen hundred years of history, they all showed their great admiration and praise to the heritage and promote of the traditional Chinese culture. After that, Madam Fang told a legend of the Mid-Autumn Festival named Fairy Chang E Flying to the Moon. The myth was really magic and attracted great interest from the audience. From this legend, the moon worship ritual started. In addition to it, there were also several customs to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, such as admiring the full moon, and chanting the moon.

In the lecture, Madam Fang also described a well-known poem "Prelude--- Thinking of You", which was the representative work of the Song literati SU Tungpo. She first introduced the background of the poem, and explained the meaning of it sentence by sentence. So, the audience enthralled to enjoy the beauty of the poem. It made the audience deeply appreciate the essence of the traditional Chinese culture, and taste the profound meaning of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

On the occasion of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Confucius Classroom Munich prepared the moon cake and wine for the audience. Finally, Madam Fang also played a very popular song "May we all be blessed longevity ", which words were copied from the poem "Prelude--- Thinking of You” by SU Tungpo. While listening to the beautiful melodies, and enjoying the wonderful poetry, the presence of people sipped wine and moon cake. In the end, everyone toasted to the moon and sent good wishes to their loved ones.

This was a spectacular cultural lecture, but also a unique cultural experience and a big party.

（By Confucius Classroom Munich）