China’s Mid Autumn Festival
The Mid Autumn Festival, also called the Mooncake or Moon Festival, is one of the most important festivals in China. Many other countries like Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore also celebrate this festival.
The Mid Autumn Festival is a joyous festival celebrated with families, sharing traditional foods, lighting lanterns, and admiring the moon. It is quite similar to Thanksgiving which is observed in many western countries.
The Mooncake is a must-have during this celebration. Mooncakes are a type of pastry filled with sweet bean or lotus seed paste. These cakes are shaped like the full moon and represent the moon worship aspect of this festival. Usually, the Chinese people observe a 3-day holiday during the Mid Autumn Festival.
When is the Mid Autumn Festival celebrated?
The 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar is celebrated as the Mid Autumn Festival. On the Gregorian calendar, which is the normal calendar the festival usually falls sometime in September or early October. In 2022, the Mid Autumn festival would be celebrated on 10th September. The Chinese people would enjoy a 3-day holiday starting from 10th September to 13th September 2022.
What is the significance of the Mid Autumn Festival?
The full moon, in Chinese culture, is a symbol of reunion. That’s why the Mid Autumn Festival, which also worships the moon, is called the Reunion Festival. Mooncakes signify reunion since they are shaped like the full moon. The Mid Autumn Festival is associated with the moon and moon appreciation because the moon is the brightest during this festival. The festival also marks the end of the autumn harvest.
In China, the day of the Mid Autumn Festival is also considered auspicious for weddings, as the Chinese believe that the moon goddess blesses the couple with conjugal bliss.
The Mid Autumn Festival has been celebrated for over 2,000 years as a post-autumn harvest celebration. According to some scholars, the festival was first celebrated during the Song dynasty. The tradition of worshipping the moon and the legends associated with it also became associated with this festival. It was Emperor Tai of the Northern Song Dynasty that designated the 15th day of the eighth month to be celebrated as the Mid Autumn Festival.
Over the years, the Mid Autumn Festival has become a lot more than just a post-harvest autumn celebration. It has become a festival to be spent with families and loved ones, praying for the happiness and good health of everyone. Today, the festival is celebrated as a day for a family reunion, which is why many people consider it similar to Thanksgiving.
How do people celebrate the Mid Autumn Festival?
After the Chinese New Year, the Mid Autumn Festival is considered to be the most important festival in Chinese culture. There are many ways in which the Chinese celebrate this festival.
Family dinners
The round shape of the full moon signifies reunion. So, the Mid Autumn Festival is also a time for families to get together. Most families get together and enjoy dinner on the evening of the Moon Festival.
China gives a 3-day holiday so that people living in different parts of China can travel to reunite with their families. The holidays also allow those staying far away from their families to also get together for celebrations.
Eating mooncakes
Mooncakes are made at this time of year. Because of their shape, the mooncakes also symbolize completeness and sweetness. During the Mid Autumn Festival, people eat mooncakes with their families. They also gift mooncakes to their friends and loved ones to express their love and best wishes.
Appreciating the moon
The moon is considered to be the brightest and most beautiful on the day of the Moon Festival. The Chinese take the time to appreciate the moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival. You will often see them laying out tables outside their house to sit and appreciate the moon while relishing mooncakes. Parents also tell folk tales about the moon to their children.
Moon Worship
According to Chinese legend, Chang’e, the fairy maiden lives on the moon with her rabbit. On the night of the Mid Autumn Festival, people worship the moon, with the belief that Chang’e will bless them and fulfill their wishes.
Lighting lanterns
Lanterns are also a noteworthy part of the Mid Autumn Festival. You will see a lot of people making lanterns, buying lanterns, and hanging them from their homes and trees. There are also a lot of sky lanterns and public lantern displays during this time. Lanterns symbolize luck, light, and familial togetherness, which is why they are a big part of the Mid Autumn Festival.
Summary
If you want to experience Chinese culture at its finest, you should consider visiting China during the Mid Autumn Festival. However, most Chinese people are traveling to their homes during this time, so hotels and tickets are in huge demand. If you do plan to travel, ensure that you book your travel tickets and accommodation in advance.
Mid Autumn Festival is also a great time for brands to get active with their marketing campaigns. Gifts of branded and themed mooncake are popular, as are tea and fruit baskets. Anything that brings families and friends together to enjoy a meal are also well received.