Chang e, Moon Goddess

Chang e or Chang o, the Chinese moon goddess. The details of her story vary, but generally she is married to an archer who shoots 9 of the 10 suns to prevent the Earth from scorching drought. He is awarded elixir of immortality by the Great Queen Mother Goddess of the West. To keep the elixir from burglars, Chang e drinks it. The elixir causes her to float up to the moon, where she is separated from her husband, but at least has a jade rabbit and busy woodcutter for company. China's lunar landers are named after her.

Chang E, Moon Goddess original painting by Echoing Multiverse available via Saatchi Art. Stickers, prints, and other merch available through RedBubble or Fine Art America.

In older stories, she also births the 12 moons. In some versions of the story with the archer, Chang e is reunited with him during the 8th moon of each year. The Mid-Autumn Festival celebrates this reunion, and is one of the largest holidays in China. According to Wikipedia, "The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture; its popularity is on par with that of Chinese New Year. The history of the festival dates back over 3,000 years.[3][4] Similar festivals are celebrated by other cultures in East and Southeast Asia."

My daughter just wrote an essay for school about how the Pledge of Allegiance should be changed to remove the "under God" and replace the flag with the Constitution. In the essay, she notes how the "under God" phrase was added to the pledge during the 1950s Red Scare, as America sought to differentiate itself from the countries of the "godless Communists". According to Wikipedia, "the Chinese government and the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) are officially atheist." But...their second biggest holiday is a celebration of the Moon Goddess? Interesting.

In China "since 1978, the constitution provides for religious freedom: "No state organ, public organization or individual may compel citizens to believe in, or not to believe in, any religion; nor may they discriminate against citizens because they do, or do not believe in religion" (article 36)."

During the Mid-Autumn Festival, under the full moon, cakes and pastries are offered on open-air altars to Chang'e. In Taiwan, "Pomelo skin is peeled in a flower shape and placed upon children’s heads so Chang'e may see and bless them." (source)

Mid Autumn Festival Mooncakes. Source: wikipedia

Pomelo hats for Chang e blessings in Taiwan. Source

I would like to have some Goddess holidays in the U.S.

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