Students and faculty members gathered on Saturday at University Village to celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival organized by the Chinese Student Association.

The Mid-Autumn festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is held every year on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese Lunar Calendar when the moon is full.

“It’s pretty much like Thanksgiving, but it’s Chinese style,” said Ho Ki Lee, a finance student from Hong Kong.

Traditionally, the Chinese would gather with their family to eat a large meal as well as moon cakes, a moon-shaped dessert filled with red bean paste. Other foods included in this celebration are dumplings, Chinese barbecue and candy.

Liu Senlong, president of the Chinese Student Association said the main reason for holding the event was to help the Chinese students feel less homesick and also to introduce Chinese culture to those who are interested in learning more about it.

The Mid-Autumn Festival has been held in China since the Shang Dynasty began around the year 1000. Minnie Wu, vice president of the club in charge of events said that there is a romantic story that explains the reason for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

The next Chinese festival will be the Spring Festival in early February, known as the Chinese New Year in the U.S.

“The children will get red pocket money from their relatives, so actually this is a very exciting festival for children,” said Wu.