Celebrations have continued ever since and more customs for marking this occasion have been formed. ![]() It became a established festival during the Song Dynasty, and has become as popular as the Spring Festival since the Ming and Qing Dynasties. However, it was not until the early Tang Dynasty that the day was officially celebrated as a traditional festival. The word "Mid-Autumn" first appeared in the famous ancient book "Zhou Li" ( The Zhou Rituals, a book telling the rituals in the Zhou Dynasty). In ancient times, the emperors had the tradition of worshiping the Sun in spring, and the Moon in autumn. > moreĬelebration of Mid-autumn festival has a long history. The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is a popular harvest festival celebrated by Chinese people, dating back over 3,000 years to moon worship in Shang Dynasty. Full of joy and happiness, friends and loved ones gather to celebrate a time when the moon is at its fullest and brightest of the whole year, and everyone gathers together to delight in eating moon cakes and appreciating the spectacular beauty of the full moon. doi: 10.1111/j.0022-3840.1999.3302_67.x.One of the most important traditional Chinese festivals, the Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, September 19 this year. This day was also considered as a harvst festival since fruits, vegetables and grain had been harvested by this time and food was abundant. "Lanterns of the mid-Autumn Festival: A Reflection of Hong Kong Cultural Change". ↑ "Back to Basics: Baked Traditional Moon Cakes".↑ "A Chinese Symbol of Reunion: Moon Cakes – China culture".↑ "Mid-Autumn Festival in Other Asian Countries".↑ "Mooncakes, lanterns and legends: Your guide to the Mid-Autumn Festival in Singapore". ![]() The festival, celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese calendar, has no fixed date on the Western calendar, but the day always coincides with a full moon. "Mid-Autumn Festival and its traditions". Traditional Festivals: A Multicultural Encyclopedia, Volume 1. ↑ "Moon Festival – The Chinese Mid Autumn Festival".↑ "Explained: What is the Mid-Autumn Festival all about and how is it celebrated?".They keep the lanterns up until Mid-Autumn Festival. During the Qing dynasty, Hong Kong fishermen would put up lanterns on their boats for the Ghost Festival. For example, the putting of lanterns on rivers to help the souls of the drowned as practiced during the Ghost Festival. Īs China gradually evolved from a farming society to a mixed farming and trading one, traditions from other festivals began to be brought into the Mid-Autumn Festival. As time passed, a greater variety of lanterns could be found as local cultures became influenced by their neighbors. In the old days, lanterns were made in the image of natural things, myths and local cultures. But today the lantern has come to depict the festival itself. The laterns act mainly as a toy and decoration. Traditionally, the lantern has been used to represent fertility. Lantern usages were not combined with Moon-worship before the Tang dynasty. Another tradition involving lanterns is to write riddles on them and have other people try to guess the answers ( simplified Chinese: 灯谜 traditional Chinese: 燈謎 pinyin: dēng mí literally: "lantern riddles"). Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns at a shop in Hong KongĪ very important part of celebrating the festival is carrying the bright lanterns and lighting them on towers or floating sky lanterns. The Mid-Autumn Festival is based on the story of Chang'e, the moon goddess in Chinese mythology.Ĭelebrations Moon worship These are mostly filled with sweet-bean, egg yolk, meat or lotus-seed paste. Mooncakes, are traditionally eaten during this festival. This symbolises that light brings people's way to prosperity and good luck. Lanterns of all sizes and shapes, are carried and displayed. This coincides with the harvesting time in the middle of Autumn. On this day, the Chinese believe that the moon is at its brightest and fullest size. It is during the mid-September to early October according to the Gregorian calendar. The festival is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar. The history of the Mid-Autumn Festival dates back to 3,000 years back. Its popularity is at the same level with that of Chinese New Year. It is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture. ![]() Similar holidays are celebrated in Japan, Korea, and across many Southeast Asian regions. The Mid-Autumn Festival or the Moon Festival or the Mooncake Festival is a traditional festival celebrated in mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Vietnam, as well as by overseas Chinese and Vietnamese people. Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations in Victoria Park, Hong Kong
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