By Star Cheung
They might not know what day it is, they may not know what a moon cake is, and it's very unlikely they have ever heard the Chinese fairy tale of "Chang Er flies to the Moon", but Paralympians from all over the world celebrate a very special Mid-Autumn Day in China yesterday.
Tomasz Chmurzynski is a Polish paralympian. He will take part in the marathon competition on September 17 and right now he is busy writing postcards to his family and friends. He bought about 30 cards from the post office in Paralympic Village. "I've been here for several days and I'm missing my family, so I'm sending them these beautiful cards. I hope to do well in my race," said Tomasz during an interview in the Paralympic Village.
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Tomasz Chmurzynski, a Polish paralympian, is busy writing postcards to his family and friends.
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This Internet café in the Paralympic Village, sponsored by Lenovo, Partner of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, had a special gift for Paralympians and foreign friends. From 10:30 AM to 14:00 PM, the net café offered a free red lantern to over 50 guests, who could ask the staff to write their own names or messages on the lanterns.
Spaniard Enhamed Enhamed has just won a gold medal in men's 50m free style S11 competition. This is his fourth gold medal of the Beijing 2008 Paralympics. He attributed his victory to having "eaten a moon cake at noon…" (the moon cake brought him luck).
During the press conference after the victory ceremony for the men's 50m freestyle S11 in the Water Cube tonight, bronze medalist Alexander Chekurov from Russia answered the press jokingly: "I've never tasted a moon cake, but I'd be delighted if you can give me one as a gift." Silver winner Junichi Kawai comes from neighboring Japan. "There is also similar festival in Japan when on the day, the Luna will bless everyone. I'm very lucky to have won this medal in China on mid-autumn day. I would like to taste a moon cake," he said.
Jen Armbruster, a visually-impaired goalball player from the United States, bought three bags of souvenirs from the Chinese Traditional Arts & Crafts Show in the Village.
She said she was interested in Chinese culture and knew of the Mid-Autumn Festival even before she came to China. The Festival has a common theme with Thanksgiving Day in the States, as both are celebrations when families get together. "I'm competing for a medal tomorrow, so I won't have the opportunity to really celebrate the festival, but I will eat mooncake," she added.
The centuries-old festival, which occurs on Aug. 15 on the Chinese lunar calendar, is traditionally an occasion to celebrate abundance and family reunion as symbolized by the full moon of the night. It is also known as the Mooncake Festival for the typical round pastries, usually stuffed with sweetmeats, to be shared by all the family.
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The net café offers a free red lantern to over 50 guests.
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(China.org.cn September 15, 2008)