Mid-Autumn Festival

Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional festival celebrated by many East and Southeast Asian communities. It is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar with full moon at night, corresponding to mid September to early October of the Gregorian calendar.

History

The Mid-Autumn Festival has a history dating back over 3,000 years to moon worship in China's Shang Dynasty. It was first called Zhongqiu Jie (literally "Mid-Autumn Festival") in the Zhou Dynasty. In Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines, it is also sometimes referred to as the Lantern Festival or Mooncake Festival.

Traditions

The festival celebrates three fundamental concepts which are closely tied to one another:

• Gathering, such as family and friends coming together, or harvesting crops for the festival. It's said the moon is the brightest and roundest on this day which means family reunion. Consequently, this is the main reason why the festival is thought to be important.
• Thanksgiving, to give thanks for the harvest, or for harmonious unions
• Praying (asking for conceptual or material satisfaction), such as for babies, a spouse, beauty, longevity, or for a good future.

Traditions and myths surrounding the festival are formed around these three concepts, although traditions have changed over time due to changes in technology, science, economy, culture, and religion.

Mooncakes

Mooncakes, a rich pastry typically filled with sweet-bean or lotus-seed paste, are traditionally eaten during the festival. The Mid-Autumn Festival is the second most important holiday in China after Chinese New Year. To the Chinese, the festival means family reunion and peace.

Lanterns

Carrying brightly lit lanterns, lighting lanterns on towers, or floating sky lanterns are also common activities during the festival. In addition, a large variety of traditional Chinese foods are associated with the festival.

See also

• Chinese calendar
• Chinese culture
• Chinese mythology
• Mooncake
• Lantern Festival