Immerse into the Mid-Autumn Festival In China
Mid-Autumn Festival Overview🌙
Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, Mooncake Festival, Reunion Festival, and many other names, is a traditional holiday celebrated by numerous ethnic groups in China. It falls on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar, which is in the middle of autumn, hence the name. Along with Chinese New Year, the Qingming Festival, and the Dragon Boat Festival, it is one of China’s four major traditional festivals.
The Mid-Autumn Festival originated from ancient people’s worship of celestial phenomena, evolving from moon sacrifices in early autumn. Over time, it incorporated various customs such as moon worship by the emperor, autumn harvest celebrations, moon viewing, and legends related to the Moon Palace. The festival’s origins can be traced back to the pre-Qin period, becoming widely recognized during the Han Dynasty, taking shape in the Tang Dynasty, and officially established during the Northern Song Dynasty.
*mid autumn festival moon.
*Mid-Autumn Festival small lanterns.
It became especially popular after the Song Dynasty. In 2008, the festival was designated as a national public holiday by the State Council. Traditionally, the festival includes customs such as offering sacrifices to the moon, moon gazing, guessing riddles, making lanterns, and eating mooncakes, among other activities. These traditions have been passed down through the centuries.
As the festival has been celebrated for thousands of years, it has evolved, rich with Chinese cultural significance. Many ancient rituals, as well as myths like Chang’e flying to the moon, Wu Gang chopping the osmanthus tree, and Emperor Tang Minghuang’s journey to the Moon Palace, have infused the festival with profound meaning. Many famous poems and literary works have been written about it.
Ultimately, the spirit of “family reunion” has become the central theme of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The full moon symbolizes family unity, and the festival is an occasion for expressing longing for home, loved ones, and hopes for a bountiful harvest and happiness. In 2006, it was included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage by the State Council. Besides China, the festival is also popular in Japan, the Korean Peninsula, Southeast Asia, and other regions.
Festival Name🎀
The Mid-Autumn Festival, also called the “Festival of the Mid-Autumn,” falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month when the moon is at its fullest and brightest. This day occurs in the middle of autumn, hence the name “Mid-Autumn.” As the moon is especially bright that night, the festival is also referred to as the “Moonlit Night” or “Moon Festival.” Since it is held in autumn and in the 8th month, it is also known as the “Autumn Festival” or “Eighth Month Festival.”
Because of the customs of worshiping and offering sacrifices to the moon, it is also called the “Moon Worship Festival” or “Mooncake Festival.” Since it is a time for families to reunite, especially when married daughters return to their natal families, it is also known as the “Reunion Festival” or “Daughters’ Festival.” Various fruits and vegetables ripen during this time, which is why the festival is also called the “Fruit Festival.” Among the Dong people, it is known as the “Pumpkin Festival,” while the Mulao people call it the “Youth Festival,” and the Koreans refer to it as “Chuseok” or “Gahwae.”
*Mid-Autumn Festival Moon Appreciation.
Origins in the Pre-Qin Period🧭
The Mid-Autumn Festival originated from ancient worship of the moon and the celestial phenomena, evolving from the ancient moon-sacrifice ceremonies during the autumn equinox. The practice of offering sacrifices to the moon has ancient origins and was a form of moon deity worship in some areas of ancient China.
The autumn equinox of the 24 solar terms was the original “Moon Festival.” As the festival evolved, it incorporated various customs such as the emperor’s moon worship, the autumn harvest, moon viewing, and legends about the Moon Palace.
The term “Mid-Autumn” first appeared in written records during the Han Dynasty. The ancient book “Zhou Li” mentions rituals related to “Mid-Autumn,” which refer to the 8th month in the lunar calendar, confirming that “Mid-Autumn moon sacrifices” have long been an important part of royal and religious ceremonies. Over time, the festival moved from the autumn equinox to the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, as this date often coincides with a full moon.
Festival Customs
Eating Mooncakes:🫓
Mooncakes, also known as “reunion cakes” or “harvest cakes,” were originally offerings to the moon deity. Over time, eating mooncakes while moon-gazing became a symbolic gesture of family reunion. The tradition of eating mooncakes during the festival began in the Ming Dynasty, though mooncakes were initially a food used by the Tang army to celebrate victory.
By the Song Dynasty, the name “mooncake” had emerged, and in the Ming period, the custom of eating mooncakes spread widely among the people. Today, mooncakes have become an essential part of Mid-Autumn celebrations, symbolizing family unity.
Family Gatherings👨👩👧👦
Chinese traditional festivals emphasize human relationships and familial bonds. The Mid-Autumn Festival, along with Chinese New Year, is one of the two festivals that place the most importance on family reunions.
From its earliest days, the festival has been associated with the full moon and the idea of human reunification. Even today, if children cannot return home, it is considered a great pity. In modern times, people often make phone calls or send messages to family members if they are unable to gather in person.
*Mid-Autumn Festival moon rabbit.
*Enjoy the beautiful lanterns.
Moon Viewing🌙
The tradition of moon viewing during the Mid-Autumn Festival dates back to the Wei and Jin Dynasties, but it was not until the Tang Dynasty that moon gazing became a widespread custom. Many poets wrote about the beauty of the moon during the festival. In the Song Dynasty, moon viewing became a central part of the festival.
People would gather to view the moon, either from towers or boats, recite poems, drink wine, and enjoy the festive atmosphere. While the custom of moon viewing waned after the Ming and Qing Dynasties, modern society has introduced new ways to enjoy the moon, such as viewing it from ferris wheels, airplanes, or during camping trips.
Lantern Riddles🏮
On Mid-Autumn night, people often gather to guess riddles written on lanterns. This activity, especially popular among young people, has also been associated with romantic encounters, making it a beloved part of the festival.
Playing with Lanterns
While not as large-scale as the lantern festivals during the Lantern Festival, children and families often play with lanterns during Mid-Autumn. In southern China, lantern parades and other festivities involving lanterns are also common during the festival.
Appreciating Osmanthus Flowers and Drinking Osmanthus Wine🍶
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, people often enjoy mooncakes while admiring osmanthus flowers and eating various foods made with osmanthus, with cakes and sweets being the most common. On the night of the festival, gazing up at the osmanthus trees in the moon, savoring the fragrant aroma, and drinking a cup of osmanthus wine have become a beautiful tradition to celebrate family harmony and happiness. Nowadays, many people substitute red wine for osmanthus wine.
Mythological Stories
Chang’e Flying to the Moon🌛
By the Tang dynasty, the Mid-Autumn customs were already popular in northern China. Many famous poems from the Tang and Song dynasties celebrate the moon, intertwining the festival with the myths of Chang’e flying to the moon, Wu Gang chopping the osmanthus tree, and the Jade Rabbit pounding medicine. These stories have been passed down through the centuries.
The legend of “Chang’e Flying to the Moon” originates from ancient star worship. The earliest mention of the story appears in the book Guicang. Later, different versions of the tale emerged. According to one version recorded in the Western Han text Huainanzi, Chang’e stole an elixir of immortality from her husband Hou Yi, which he had obtained from the Queen Mother of the West. After taking it, she flew up to the moon and transformed into a toad that forever resides in the moon palace.
Wu Gang Chopping the Osmanthus Tree🌳
Wu Gang’s tale describes his punishment in the moon palace. As told in the Tang dynasty novel Youyang Zazu, Wu Gang, who was from Xihe, sought to become an immortal but made a mistake. As a punishment, he was forced to chop down an osmanthus tree in the moon.
However, the tree regenerates each time it is cut, so his task is never completed. The poet Li Bai wrote about this myth in his poem Gift to Cui Si-Hu Wen Kun-Ji: “I wish to chop down the osmanthus tree in the moon and use the wood to warm the cold.”
*Mid-autumn festival lanterns.
*Mid-autumn festival Decoration.
Jade Rabbit Pounding Medicine🐇
The story of the rabbit in the moon making medicine dates back to Qu Yuan’s Heavenly Questions: “What benefit is there in the rabbit and toad in the moon?” Here, the “toad” refers to Chang’e, and the “rabbit” to the white rabbit that accompanies her. In the Jin dynasty, Fu Xuan also wrote: “What is in the moon? A white rabbit pounding medicine.”
According to the scholar Wen Yiduo, this myth originally depicted a toad making medicine, but it later evolved into the image of the Jade Rabbit. In one version of the story, when Chang’e began ascending to the moon, she was so frightened that she grabbed her pet rabbit, which accompanied her to the moon palace. The rabbit now pounds the elixir of immortality in a mortar. When the story reached Japan, it transformed into the tale of the rabbit pounding rice cakes instead.
Festival Significance🧜♀️
The Mid-Autumn Festival is characterized by humanity’s hopes and wishes being projected onto the heavens. It coincides with the harvest season, and both mooncakes and fruits are symbolic of both religious offerings and the joy of a bountiful harvest. As people appreciate the beauty of a full moon, they also reinforce their familial bonds, making this traditional festival valuable for promoting social harmony.
Although some of the ancient spiritual aspects of the festival have faded, the traditions of entertainment and festive foods remain vibrant. The formation and development of festivals and their associated customs are influenced by political policies, cultural beliefs, and economic factors. Festivals reflect a community’s mindset and aesthetic preferences while also deepening social ties and continuing cultural traditions.
Understanding the evolution of festivals and their symbolic customs offers important insights into Chinese cultural heritage and helps reinforce a shared national identity.