A lunar fascination

"The Chinese people have never demanded a clear separation of the worlds of myth and reality - indeed, they are so closely bound up that it is hard to say where one begins and the other ends." -- An Introduction to Oriental Mythology, Clio Whittaker et al

Since ancient times, Man has looked up towards the night sky and wondered about the stars and the moon. Indeed, the moon has, over time, wielded her influenced on a gamut of artists, from poets (The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, To The Moon, Moon's Ending); songwriters (Asmara Datang Bersama Sang Bulan, Fly Me to the Moon), authors (The Moon is a Harsh Mistress) and film-makers (Moonstruck, La Luna). On the other hand, the moon has also been blamed for horrors like moon madness, lycanthrophy or the slicing off of human ears.

Incidentally, how many of us will instantly recall that our very own national anthem, Negaraku, is based on a tune called Trang Bulan?

Different cultures ascribed different and fascinating properties to the moon. It all depended on what they claimed they could see. The Germans believed the man on the moon was one who offended God by working on the Sabbath and was swept up to eternal imprisonment on the moon. And then there are certain Christians who believed that the man on the moon was none other than Judas Iscariot, punished for his treachery! The Masai of Kenya, claimed that the moon was actually a woman's face with swollen lips and a missing eye - injuries inflicted in a quarrel by her husband the sun. The Chinese claim that the moon was barren save for a rabbit pounding the elixir of immortality under a cassia tree.

The moon plays a fascinating role in two major Chinese festivals – the 15th day of the first lunar month of the Chinese calendar (also known as the Chinese Lantern Festival) and the 15th day of the eighth lunar month (also known as the Mooncake Festival). The latter festival, which some non-Chinese locals refer to as pesta tanglung, is celebrated in grand style by all Malaysians with lantern competitions, mooncake making demonstrations and street processions.

More celebrative events, public holidays and festival in Penang | Visit Malaysia