Overview
The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as Moon Festival, is a traditional festival celebrated in China. It falls on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, a time when the moon is at its brightest and fullest, typically in September or early October of the Gregorian calendar.
Historical Background
The festival dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618–907) and became widely celebrated during the Song Dynasty (960–1279). It became as popular as the Spring Festival during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368–1911).
Customs and Traditions
The Mid-Autumn Festival symbolizes family reunion and harmony. The festival is often marked by family gatherings, moon viewing and sharing of mooncakes. These round pastries symbolize family unity and are often given as gifts to friends and family.
Other traditional activities include drinking osmanthus-flavored wine and lighting lanterns. Lanterns are made in various shapes and sizes, and some people even make Kongming lanterns which are released into the sky with wishes written on them.
Legends and Folklore
The festival is entwined with several legends[3], the most famous being the story of Chang’e, the Chinese moon goddess. According to the legend, Chang’e drank an elixir of immortality and floated to the moon, where she resides to this day. The Jade Rabbit, her companion, constantly pounds herbs in pursuit of an elixir of immortality.
Variations in Celebration
While the Mid-Autumn Festival originated in China, it is celebrated in various ways across Asia.
In the Republic of Korea, it is known as Chuseok, a major harvest festival celebrated with ancestral rites and traditional food such as songpyeon and rice wines. In Vietnam, it is a day for children to enjoy mooncakes and lantern parades. Japan celebrates Tsukimi, or moon-viewing, with offerings of rice dumplings and seasonal produce. In Malaysia and Singapore, it is also sometimes referred to as the Lantern Festival or Mooncake Festival.
Modern Celebrations
In modern times, the Mid-Autumn Festival continues to be a significant cultural celebration. In China, it is a public holiday, and people travel long distances to be with family. Cultural events such as concerts, exhibitions and workshops are organized to celebrate the festival. There is also a growing trend towards creative mooncake flavors and artistic packaging, appealing to younger generations.
Globally, the festival is recognized by Chinese communities worldwide, and various cultural centers host events to promote Chinese culture and traditions, including mooncake making workshops and cultural performances.