Every year on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, when a bright moon hangs high in the night sky, Chinese people welcome one of the most heart-warming traditional festivals of the year – the Mid-Autumn Festival. On this day, no matter where they are, people will gaze at the same moon, think of their loved ones far away, and long for the joyous moment of family reunion.
一、The Origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival originated from the ancient Chinese practice of worshiping the moon, dating back to the Zhou Dynasty. By the Tang Dynasty, appreciating and composing poems about the moon became a trend among literati, and the Mid-Autumn Festival gradually evolved into an important folk festival. In the Song Dynasty, the Mid-Autumn Festival officially took shape, and customs such as eating mooncakes, moon-viewing, and lantern-watching became popular.
Among the people, there are many beautiful legends about the Mid-Autumn Festival, the most famous of which is the story of “Chang’e Flying to the Moon.” Legend has it that in ancient times, Hou Yi shot down nine suns, saving the people from disaster, and the Queen Mother of the West gave him the elixir of immortality. To protect the elixir from being seized by evildoers, his wife Chang’e swallowed it in a moment of desperation and flew to the moon palace, becoming the Moon Goddess. This poignant and beautiful story adds an element of mystery and romance to the moon on the Mid-Autumn night.
二、Customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival
1.Eating Mooncakes – Mooncakes are the most representative food of the Mid-Autumn Festival, with their round shape symbolizing family reunion and completeness. From the traditional “five-kernel” (五仁), bean paste, and lotus seed paste fillings to the modern snow skin, lava, and custard mooncakes, each flavor carries people’s longing for home.
2.Moon-Viewing – On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, families sit together, enjoying tea, eating mooncakes, and appreciating the moon, filled with joy and harmony. In ancient times, people often used the bright moon to convey their longing, leaving behind famous lines such as, “May we all be blessed with longevity, though far apart, we are still able to share the beauty of the moon together.”
3.Carrying Lanterns – In southern China, children carry various colorful lanterns while playing. Some Asian regions also hold Mid-Autumn Festival lantern show, creating a lively and festive atmosphere. On the Mid-Autumn night of 2024, the Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival, co-organized by FOREST PAINTINNG LANTERN Factory and the Singapore Temple Fair, grandly opened, attracting a large number of tourists and adding a beautiful scene to the city during this festive occasion for reunion.
4.Reunion Dinner – The Mid-Autumn Festival is a day for family reunion. No matter how busy they are, people try their best to go home and share a sumptuous dinner with their loved ones.
三、 Significance of the Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival is not just a holiday, but also an expression of Chinese people’s emotions. It embodies:
The Hope for Reunion – No matter how far apart they are, people long to reunite with their families on this day.
A Feeling of Gratitude – Mid-Autumn is also the harvest season, and people give thanks for the gifts of nature and cherish the happiness of the present.
Cultural Inheritance – From ancient times to the present, the Mid-Autumn Festival has gathered the wisdom and emotions of the Chinese nation, becoming an important symbol of Chinese culture.
四、New Changes in the Modern Mid-Autumn Festival
With the development of the times, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also constantly innovating:
“Cloud Reunion” – Video calls allow loved ones far away to “gather” virtually.
Creative Mooncakes – In addition to traditional flavors, novel varieties such as ice cream mooncakes and milk tea mooncakes are very popular among young people.
Eco-friendly Celebrations – Environmentally friendly practices such as electronic greeting cards and recyclable lanterns make the festival more sustainable.
For thousands of years, the Mid-Autumn moonlight has illuminated the thoughts and longings of countless Chinese people. No matter how times change, reunion, gratitude, and harmony remain the core of this festival. In this fast-paced era, the Mid-Autumn Festival reminds us to slow down, cherish the time spent with family, and pass on the warmth of human affection from generation to generation.
