“This is going to be a spectacle,” someone at the airport told me. “You can’t miss this,” the hotel receptionist echoed. Even the man at the 7-Eleven started talking about it, before asking if I was a tourist. (For those curious, the conversation ended like this: ‘Tourist? No, journalist.’ He laughed, ‘Oh, it’s the same thing here.’)
If you’re thinking they were referring to the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Singapore, you’d be mistaken. Sure, the locals enjoy it. But the race only really comes alive closer to the weekend, as I quickly discovered upon my arrival on Tuesday evening. According to the people I spoke with, something far more important was about to take place: the ‘Harvest Moon’ spectacle.
‘Come and see it on Wednesday,’ they said. And so I did.
Let me clarify: the Harvest Moon is an incredibly large, full moon – reportedly larger than what we’re used to seeing in the Netherlands. And it’s not just a Singaporean phenomenon. Other countries also witness this moon (even ours). But in certain countries, it holds a significance that is greater than elsewhere. In Singapore, they eagerly anticipate it as part of a grand festival. For more insights into the Grand Prix, check out Lewis Hamilton’s Formula 1 profile.
Mooncakes and the Harvest Moon
The Harvest Moon is part of the so-called Mid-Autumn Festival, a cultural event of great significance in China and Singapore. The term “Harvest” refers to the agricultural yield, and the Harvest Moon is seen as a sign that farmers can harvest their crops for longer than usual due to the increased light from the larger moon.
People in Singapore, both those with Chinese roots and those without, traditionally eat Mooncakes during this festival. These ‘moon cakes’ are part of the festival experience and the viewing of the Harvest Moon. However, when the day arrived, I found the spectacle somewhat underwhelming. The moon did not seem particularly bright or large, at least not more so than what I’m used to seeing back home in the Netherlands.
Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat had a different perspective. I read that he described it as a ‘radiant, large, and bright moon’. So, it must have been my expectations that were off. Fortunately, Singapore has much more to offer, so I’m not complaining. But now, it’s time for the real spectacle in this beautiful city-state: the race weekend!
Please note: All references to the upcoming GP in Singapore have been removed.
Now available in stores and for digital order (with free delivery in the Netherlands!): the latest edition of FORMULE 1 Magazine! Featuring everything about the Dutch GP in Zandvoort, the exciting battle between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, interviews with George Russell, Rico Verhoeven and Ruud Gullit, reports from the paddock and much more!
