THE Mooncake Festival, an event dating back over 3,000 years to the Yuan Dynasty, is celebrated by the Chinese from all over the world on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month of the Chinese calendar. Celebrated under a full moon night, this special occasion is associated with many legends.

One of the more popular describes how 14th-century Chinese patriots used mooncakes to overthrow the tyrannical Mongul rulers of the Yuan Dynasty (1280-1368) by embedding messages within the sweet delicacies and smuggling them to their allies.

Leaders from the preceding Sung Dynasty (960-1280) were unhappy at submitting to a foreign rule, the Monguls.

In an attempt to bring about a rebellion and knowing that the Mooncake Festival was approaching, rebel leaders ordered the baking of special cakes. Hidden inside each mooncake was a message with details of the planned attack. On the night of the Moon Festival, the rebels successfully attacked and went on to establish the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

Another legend describes how Chang Er, also known as Lady Moon, flew to the moon on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month where she became the Moon Goddess. It is said that she still lives there with a rabbit and a cassia tree.

These legends have brought about the tradition of mooncakes which are usually stamped with designs of the Moon Lady, the Jade Rabbit or groves of cassia trees.

Nowadays, the choice of mooncakes on sale in the country during each Mooncake Festival is quite amazing, as agreed by Jason Bong, 16, of Kampung Katok.

Jason shared with The Brunei Times a traditional mooncake which most Chinese buy in Brunei which also happens to be his favourite. "It is red in colour with salted egg yolk," he said.

Apart from the traditional brown or red ones, there are more colourful ones as well, such as those that are pandan green, white, and even purple, he added.

Patricia Chong, 27, of Seria said that she has also noticed mooncakes with more modern fillings. "I have come across mooncakes filled with coffee and chocolate bits and even durian!" she exclaimed, adding that these new recipes are probably designed to tempt the younger generation.

"Mooncakes are usually sweet and it represents good fortune or good harvest," added the accountant.

Karin Soon, 23, said that her family buys their mooncakes from the shop. "We don't know how to make our own mooncakes. Sometimes friends and relatives would give some to us," she admitted.

However, the Mooncake Festival is more than just about mooncakes, said Karin. "It is an opportunity to have a family reunion at home," she said. Her mother Julia Wong, 50, added that there will be a big family gathering at their house in Kampung Pandan, Kuala Belait.

Karin mentioned other things that usually happen during the festival, one of which is how the Chinese would make or buy lanterns.

"The last time my family used lanterns was about two to three years ago. Back then, it was quite popular. Kids would go outside the house and walk around in the moon light," she said, adding that it is not quite the trend anymore.

This is not the case for Khoo Yuh Fen, 23, of Kampung Bukit Udal Tutong however, who said that she and her cousins would light lanterns outside which is either bought from the shops or made themselves.

"We will most probably go to the capital to visit the Chinese temple to attend a lantern competition this year," she said.

"Every year it's the same thing," she said. "More than 10 families would gather at my grandmother's house and we would have dinner and mooncakes. The elderly would talk or tell tales of the festival."

Yuh Fen, who works at her family's shop, believes that the full moon can bring people together.The Brunei Times