What are the origins and customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival?
Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as Full Moon Festival, Moon Worship Festival, Reunion Festival, etc., is one of the important traditional festivals in China. Every year on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, people across the country celebrate this festival in various ways. Let’s learn more about the origins and customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival can be traced back to the ancient “Moon Festival”, which is the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. According to historical records, as early as the Zhou Dynasty, people had begun to worship the moon in autumn. At that time, the moon was regarded as a symbol of harvest. After the autumn harvest, people would worship the moon to express their gratitude for the harvest and pray for the future. Later, as time went by, this sacrificial activity gradually evolved into a folk custom, which later became the Mid-Autumn Festival.
There are many theories about the origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival, one of which is related to ancient emperors. It is said that in order to worship the moon, ancient emperors would personally go to the altar temple outside the capital to worship the moon on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. Later, this kind of sacrificial activity gradually evolved into a folk custom and was widely spread among the people.
In addition, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also combined with some mythological stories, such as Chang’e flying to the moon, Wu Gang cutting osmanthus, and the Jade Rabbit pounding medicine, etc. These stories make the festival more romantic.
The customs and habits of the Mid-Autumn Festival include appreciating the moon, eating moon cakes, appreciating sweet-scented osmanthus, and guessing lantern riddles, etc. Among them, moon appreciation is one of the most important activities of the Mid-Autumn Festival. People will look up at the sky on this night, appreciate the bright moon, and pray for reunion and happiness. Eating mooncakes is also one of the essential customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Mooncakes are round, symbolizing reunion and harmony. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, people also enjoy osmanthus flowers and guess lantern riddles, etc., to add to the joyful atmosphere of the festival.
In addition to the above customs, different regions also have their own unique ways of celebrating. For example, in the Chaoshan area of Guangdong, people will weave bamboo strips into moon lanterns, light candles in the lamps, and hang them under the eaves; in the mountainous areas of Fujian, people will set up swings and let young people swing on the swings to pray. Get more happiness and joy.
Although the ways of celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival are different, they all express people’s yearning and pursuit of reunion and happy life. This festival is not only an important traditional cultural heritage, but also a spiritual sustenance and emotional bond for people.
