Can you smell the fragrance of BBQ hanging thick in the air? By this Friday, Sept. 13, you’ll know it’s Mid-Autumn Festival in Taiwan by the proliferation of road-side grillers. 

“Wait a minute,” you might say… “Autumn doesn’t even begin until Sept. 23!” And you’d be right. Never fear, in today’s Taiwan Insider, we take a break from the hard news to decode one of the most important holidays of the year for people in Taiwan and across the Chinese-speaking world. 

Plus:

-Creative Moon Festival gift ideas light up social media.

-RTI’s long-running food show Feast Meets West celebrates 10 years on air.

-A fleet of 150 boats celebrates one of Taiwan’s most revered deities.