Mid-Lunar-Year Celebration (半年節)

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In Chinese Custom, on the 15th Day of Lunar 6 Month is known as Half Year Celebration, in Chinese known as Ban Nian Jie, in Hokkien, we called Phua Nee Zhuay (半年節).

On this Day, the Taoist or Chinese will prepare Rice-dumpling, in Chinese known as TangYuan (湯圓), in Hokkien Ee, to celebrate the Joyous Occasion.

In the Ancient Era, on this Day, All the Working Adults such as Officers, Farmers, Guards, etc, were entitled to One Day off to return back home to enjoy a Feast with the other Family Members and also, to pay respect to Deities and Ancestors, thanking them for providing the necessary Blessing for the past Six months.

On this Day, usually the Ladies will wake up early in the morning to prepare the Glutinous Rice Flour for the making of the Tang Yuan. Once the Tang Yuan is ready and being cooked, the Leader of the Family will first offered 1 Bowl to the Heaven, 1 Bowl to the Earth (placing on the ground outside the House), 1 Bowl to the Water (usually near Water-stream or Well), 1 Bowl to the Top Beam of the House and then few Bowls on the Main Altar for the Deities and Ancestors.

Only after the offering being made, then the other members in the Family will then enjoyed the Tang Yuan by sitting around (just like celebrating Winter Solstice).

In the Noon period, the whole Family will visit Temples to make their Respect to the Deities and also to request for Blessing from the Deities for the next half a year.

At night, the Taoist or Chinese will prepared some simple Feast for the whole Family to gather around.

After this Day, Life will return back to Normal.

For Modern Society today, people tend to ignore this Day as it doesnt mark any important significant. And due to the Myth of Summer-snow (六月雪或稱竇娥冤), the Elderly will tend to avoid eating the Tang Yuan as it represent mis-fortune and unlucky.

Now, only a minority number of Taoist or Chinese will celebrate this Occasion by paying respect to Ancestors.