Seven student associations have combined efforts to co-host the Mooncake Festival at 8 p.m. Saturday at Sooner Sports Grill, Couch Cafeteria. University Housing and Student Affairs are sponsors.

Organizations involved are the Asian-American Student Association, Chinese Student Association, Hong Kong Student Association, Indonesian Student Association, Malaysian Student Association, Society of Chinese Students and Scholars and the Vietnamese Student Association.

The celebration includes a mix of cultural performance: traditional Chinese and Vietnamese dances and an instrumental. Attendees can also have a taste of mooncakes, which are ordered from Dallas.

Halls will be decorated with lanterns, which is traditional during the celebration.

"The mooncake festival is a colorful event and it reflects the richness of the Chinese culture," said Benedict Wang, international residence director at University Housing. He said by holding such a cultural event at the housing cafeteria, it would encourage more students to attend, especially residents staying at the halls.

Mooncake Festival, or the Mid-Autumn Festival, is a traditional practice originated in China that falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. There are two eighth lunar months this year; Sept. 9 and Oct. 9.

In ancient China, the country was largely agricultural. In autumn, when it was time to harvest, farmers would choose a full-moon night to pay respect to heaven and earth by performing rituals.

There are many stories about how the festival originated. One of the most popular ones traces to a legendary figure in Chinese mythology. Chang Er stole the elixir of immortality from her husband, who was the emperor. She was lifted from the ground and flew to the moon. She ended up living alone on the moon with the company of a rabbit.

"This is a festival that is celebrated to express our feelings to our parents and friends at home," said Li-Chao Weng, president of SCSS.

To celebrate the festival, Chinese eat mooncakes along with Chinese tea. Traditionally, mooncakes are round to symbolize the full moon in the sky and signify the wholeness and unity of each family.