The Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is a Chinese holiday that falls on the 10th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. The festival celebrates the harvest and is traditionally a time for family reunions.
This year, the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival falls on Saturday, September 10th. Families will gather to enjoy a feast of mooncakes and tea, and give thanks for the bounty of the harvest season. The festival is also a time to admire the full moon, which is said to be at its brightest and most beautiful during this time of year.
Origins of the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival.
The Mid-Autumn Moon Festival has its origins in a legend from the Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE). The story tells of a white rabbit who lives on the moon and is the friend of a Chinese goddess named Chang’e. Each year, on the day of the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, the rabbit visits Chang’e on Earth to enjoy a feast of fruits and wine.
The legend is said to represent the harmonious relationship between humans and nature, and the festival is celebrated as a time to appreciate the beauty of nature and celebrate the harvest season.
Customs and Celebrations Associated with the Festival.
Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, also known as the Moon Festival or the Zhongqiu Jie, is a popular harvest festival celebrated in China and other East Asian countries. The festival falls on the 29th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar, typically in September or early October.
The Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is a time for family and friends to get together and enjoy the full moon. It is also a time to give thanks for the harvest and to pray for good luck in the coming year.
Customs associated with the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival include moon gazing, eating moon cakes, and drinking Green tea. The moon cakes are round or rectangular pastries filled with lotus seed paste, bean paste, or fruit. They are often given as gifts to friends and family.
Chinese paper lanterns are also common during Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. Families will often place lanterns in their homes and gardens, and children will carry lanterns in parades. Fireworks are also sometimes used to celebrate the festival.
The Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is a special time to celebrate family, friends, and the harvest. It is a time to enjoy good food, good company, and the beauty of the full moon.
What Are Some Traditions Associated with the Festival?
One of the most important traditions of the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is the lighting of lanterns. Families will often make their own lanterns and write wishes or messages on them. Lanterns can be simple hand-held paper lanterns or large elaborate structures.
Other common traditions include eating mooncakes, performing dragon and lion dances, and lighting fireworks.
For many people, the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is a time to come together with family and friends to enjoy good food and good company.
What Foods are Eaten During the Festival?
A traditional meal for the festival includes mooncakes, which are small cakes filled with lotus seed paste or red bean paste. Other popular dishes include roasted pig, glutinous rice balls, and dumplings.
Of course, no Mid-Autumn Moon Festival would be complete without tea! Green tea is typically served during the meal, and it is believed to help aid digestion.
For dessert, fruits such as pears, oranges, and apples are often eaten. These fruits are not only tasty, but they are also symbols of abundance and good fortune.
Whether you are enjoying a traditional Mid-Autumn Moon Festival meal or just snacking on mooncakes, there are plenty of delicious foods to enjoy during this special time.
What Activities are Done During the Three-Day Festival?
Mid-Autumn Moon Festival celebrates three main things: the harvest, the moon, and family reunion. Families get together to have a big feast and offer sacrifices to the moon goddess, Chang’e. People also admire the full moon, which symbolizes reunion.
One of the most popular activities during the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is watching fireworks displays. Fireworks are lit up in celebration of the harvest, and it is also believed that they help to scare away evil spirits.
Another popular activity is watching dancing dragons and tigers. These dances are performed to bring good luck and fortune, and they are often accompanied by traditional music.
The Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is a time for people to come together and enjoy the company of loved ones. It is a joyful occasion that is filled with beautiful sights and sounds.
The Moon in Chinese culture.
For the Chinese, the moon is closely linked to their culture and history. The Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is one of the most important holidays in the Chinese calendar, and it celebrates the harvest moon.
Families come together to enjoy a special meal and give thanks for the bounty of the season.
The festival also has a strong connection to the legend of Chang’e, the goddess of the moon. According to the story, Chang’e was forced to leave her mortal husband and live on the moon after she drank a magical elixir. Today, she is still revered as a symbol of love and loyalty.
The Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is a time to reflect on these ancient stories and to give thanks for all that the moon has brought to Chinese culture.
How to Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival Yourself!
If you want to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival but don’t have access to a traditional festival, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy the holiday.
One way is to make your own mooncakes. Mooncakes are small, round cakes traditionally filled with lotus seed paste or mung bean paste. You can purchase mooncake molds and fillings at your local Asian market, or you can get creative and make your own fillings.
Once you have your mooncakes, you can enjoy them with tea or coffee while admiring the full moon. another option is to take a nature walk to appreciate the autumn leaves and full moon.
Or, you can gather your friends and family for a potluck dinner party featuring traditional Mid-Autumn Moon dishes such as roasted pig or chicken, sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaves, and steamed pumpkin cake.
Final thoughts.
The Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is a cherished Chinese holiday that celebrates the harvest, the moon, and family reunions. Families gather together for a feast, offer sacrifices to the moon goddess Chang’e, and enjoy beautiful sights and sounds.
If you want to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival yourself, there are plenty of ways to do so. You can make your own mooncakes, take a nature walk, or gather your friends and family for a potluck dinner party.
Whatever way you choose to celebrate, the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the autumn season and connect with loved ones.
Sources: THX News, Wikipedia & Chinese Embassy.
