Mid-Autumn Festival

The 15th day of the 8th month in the Chinese calendar is the Mid-Autumn Festival, a traditional festival of China. In the Chinese calendar, the 7th, 8th and 9th months form the autumn season. The 8th month is the middle month of the autumn season, which is what gave this festival its name. It is the best time to enjoy the moonlight throughout the year, and people view the full moon as a symbol of reunion and happiness, so the Mid-Autumn Festival is also known as the Reunion Festival. The Chinese people have a custom of enjoying the moonlight and eating mooncakes that day. They set out fresh fruits,round mooncake and so forth, enjoying both the moonlight and the delicious food, filled with the joy of autumn harvest and family union. At that moment, those far from home would enjoy the same moonlight, yearning for their hometown and their loved ones

The origin of the Mid Autumn Festival

August 15 of the lunar calendar is China’s traditional Mid Autumn Festival and the second largest traditional festival in China after the Spring Festival. August 15 is just in the middle of autumn, so it is called the Mid Autumn Festival. China’s ancient calendar calls August in the middle of autumn “mid autumn”, so the Mid Autumn Festival is also called “Mid Autumn Festival”.

On the night of the Mid Autumn Festival, the moon is bright. The ancients regarded the full moon as a symbol of reunion. Therefore, it is also called “reunion day” on August 15. Since ancient times, people often use “full moon” and “lack of moon” to describe “joys and sorrows”. Wandering children living in other places place place their deep feelings on the moon. Li Bai’s poems of the Tang Dynasty, such as “looking up at the bright moon and looking down at my hometown”, Du Fu’s “the dew is white from tonight, and the moon is my hometown”, and Wang Anshi’s poems of the Song Dynasty, such as “the spring breeze is green on the South Bank of the river, and when the bright moon shines on me”, are all unique through the ages.

Eating moon cakes is another custom of the festival. Moon cakes symbolize reunion. The production of moon cakes has become more and more exquisite since the Tang Dynasty.

During the Mid Autumn Festival, there are few clouds and fog, and the moonlight is bright and bright. In addition to a series of activities such as appreciating the moon, sacrificing the moon, eating moon cakes and blessing reunion, there are also activities such as dancing grass dragons and building pagodas in some places. In addition to moon cakes, all kinds of seasonal fresh and dried fruits are also delicious food on the mid autumn night.

Another saying about the origin of the Mid Autumn Festival is that the 15th day of August of the lunar calendar happens to be the time when rice is ripe. All families worship the God of the earth. The mid autumn festival may be the legacy of the autumn newspaper.

What do you eat on the Mid Autumn Festival

Moon Cake 月饼

It is said that the custom of eating moon cakes on the Mid Autumn Festival did not prevail until the Ming Dynasty. It has become a convention so far. Moon cakes are round and eaten by the whole family, symbolizing reunion and harmony. They are a must eat during the Mid Autumn Festival.

You zi 柚子

You zi is also one of the necessities of the Mid Autumn Festival. “You zi” means “bless” and hope the moon bless.

Crab 吃大闸蟹

At the Mid Autumn Festival banquet in the Ming Dynasty, crabs were the protagonists. After steaming with PU Bao, people sat around eating crabs, accompanied by wine and vinegar, which was very popular. Autumn is also a season full of crabs. At this time, crabs are the fattest.

 

people set a table with mooncakes and other sacrifices towards the moon, make wishes, offer incense and kowtow to the moon.

Eating together and enjoy the moon in outside

the moon on the festival night is believed to be the fullest and brightest of the whole year, symbolizing family reunion. Even a family member is not home, he or she is appreciating the same moon with other families, seeming like they are together.

This is an activity popular in Guangdong and Hong Kong areas, favored especially by kids. In other places of China, people also set Kongming lanterns to make best wishes.

Making Kongming lantern

when the lanterns slowly rise into the air, people make wishes.

Fragrant Fire Dragon

The Fragrant Fire Dragon is made of straw and bamboo slices. It is usually tens of meters long. At the beginning of the night, the whole village ignites the incense, and the whole dragon body shines brightly in the night. Under the guidance of the young man holding the hydrangea ball, dozens to hundreds of young people dance it together. The flaming incense dragons shuttle back and forth in the streets and alleys of villages and towns. When passing the villagers’ homes, each family will light candles and set off firecrackers and fireworks to welcome the arrival of solitaire, symbolizing good luck and the red fire of the year.

How to Say Happy Mid Autumn Festival in Chinese?

Here are the top 3 popular Mid-Autumn greetings to your friends.

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

中秋节快乐！zhōng qiū jié kuài lè

中秋快乐！zhōng qiū kuài lè

Happy Mooncake Festival!

月饼节快乐！yuè bǐng jié kuài lè

Happy Moon Festival!

月亮节快乐！yuè liàng jié kuài lè