Or at least, our memories... 

While the Moon cake festival and Lantern festival are two different occasions, they are celebrated around the same time of year. It is a common sight to see adults enjoying the company of each other and delicious moon cakes, while their brats run around playing with paper lanterns and candles. Some actually set themselves on fire- it is all very heart-warming.

When we think back to our childhood, moon cake-gobbling aside, we actually most remember the feel of candle wax, the smell of paper lanterns and setting off sparklers (some even whistle!). However, we can’t be the only ones!

 
in2it.sg talks to some people who still remember their childhood moon cake festivals as if it were yesterday. Some even still celebrate them with nieces, nephews and children.

Nicholas Lu, 21, tells us that his childhood moon cake festivals were a chance to let loose and have fun. After consuming many moon cakes with his family and watching some TV, it was time to bring out the fun stuff. “It was basically that, to light candles and play with lanterns and sparklers.” He admits that he may have been a secret pyromaniac, confessing that he once set a whole bag of lanterns on fire. Whether intentionally or accidentally, Nicholas isn’t telling!

Lanterns, flames, and a total disregard for the rules seem to be the norm. It was this way as well for Kenneth Chng, 26, who said that himself and his cousins would haunt the playground on this night and set up candles everywhere. “It was a challenge to keep the fire going, because after lighting ten candles, the first three would already be blown out by the wind.” he says. He also added that they would try to decorate the playground with candles and set lanterns on fire intentionally. Kenneth thinks that musical and digital lanterns lack the traditional appeal that paper lanterns have. “They seem pointless.” He also comments that he spent more time lighting candles than eating mooncakes, because he is not a big fan of them.

Christine De Santis says, “I loved, and still do love lantern festival. When we were kids, we used to hang around downstairs with friends, playing with the lanterns. We all thought it was fun until one year my shirt caught fire. Luckily we managed to snuff it out before I got burnt, but that did turn the tone down a bit and I have been very careful since then. Nowadays, the lanterns are all plastic and battery operated. Some even play bloody tunes while the light is on! I like them the way they were, with the little red candles.”

Article by Sarah Ko