When did the Mid-Autumn Festival in China start?
About Mid-Autumn Festival in China Holiday
Greetings from the Chinese: Mid-Autumn Festival! This upcoming festival on September 20th marks an important and deeply cherished annual celebration of the bright autumn moon that is shared by people of China.
The holiday, which has been celebrated for centuries, has become revered as an opportunity to share stories, food, and memories with friends and family. As people come together to appreciate and admire the burning harvest moon, it is also a chance to look forward to the bright future that lies ahead.
It is an occasion to pay respect to the customs, customs of our ancestors, and to celebrate the passing of time. From our meals to our festivities, the celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival is a reminder of how connected we still feel to our past. Furthermore, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for us to appreciate our bond with one another and with the land that sustains us.
So come join us in taking part of this beautiful celebration! With the bright full moon lighting our way, let us together honor the traditions, enjoy the memories, and toast the upcoming year.
Mid-Autumn Festival in China: 2023-09-29
History and Origin
The Mid-Autumn Festival has been celebrated in China for over 3,000 years. It is believed to have originated during the Zhou Dynasty. The mid-autumn festival is deeply embedded in Chinese culture, from poetry and literature to mooncakes and lanterns. This festival usually falls on the 15th lunar day of the 8th lunar month, when the moon is believed to be the fullest and brightest.
The earliest celebration of the mid-autumn festival can be traced to moon worship during the Qin and Han dynasties. During this time, moon worship was widespread among the Chinese. Moon viewing and offerings, such as moon cakes, were presented to the deities to express reverence and seek their blessings.
By the Tang Dynasty, the mid-autumn festival had become a grand affair. Candlelight processions and elaborate parties were held to celebrate the bountiful harvest. Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty was especially fond of the mid-autumn festival and during his reign, mooncakes began to take the form of the popularly enjoyed ones of today.
During the late Qing Dynasty, a particular type of mooncake called “Taiyang He” became popular. This moon cake, with a half-moon shape, carries a double meaning. One is the half moon shape, which pays tribute to the beauty of the full moon. The other is a reference to the phrase “Enjoying the sun and moon together” (同享太阳和月亮), which is used as part of Chinese phrases of endearment.
Significance and Meaning
The mid-autumn festival is China’s second most important traditional festival after Chinese New Year, with the main characteristic being the reunion of friends and family. For many years, the mid-autumn festival has been a time for people to come together and celebrate the harvest, express gratitude, and enjoy time spent together with family and friends.
There are also strong symbolic associations with the mid-autumn festival. The roundness of the moon is symbolic of the perfection and unity of the family while the bright moon signifies reunion and togetherness.
Traditions and Celebrations
There are many traditional activities associated with the mid-autumn festival. Mooncakes are a given, and are now prepared in various flavours. Other activities include lantern decoration and making lanterns, which range from the simple to the very elaborate. There is also lantern parades, dragon and lion dances, and firework displays, all of which are a traditional part of the mid-autumn celebration.
Geographical Spread
The mid-autumn festival is celebrated all over China, with the most prominent celebrations held in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and other larger cities. However, each region has its own unique customs and traditions related to the mid-autumn festival.
In Beijing, the mid-autumn festival is celebrated with a variety of activities. People typically eat mooncakes with family and friends, watch the traditional lion and dragon dances, and admire the full moon from the rooftops of their homes. In Shanghai, participants often carry paper lanterns in the annual mid-autumn lantern procession.
In Guangzhou, locals often have the traditional “flower-piling” activity, a game where participants attempt to pile up flowers in various stacks until one collapses. This game is said to symbolize how togetherness and unity can create something lasting.
Modern Day Observations
In modern times, the mid-autumn festival is still widely celebrated in China, with a variety of activities and traditions. Mooncakes remain a staple of the celebration, and the traditional lion and dragon dance are also still popular. However, the festivities have expanded to include modern activities such as concerts, light shows, and costume parties for children. There is also becoming a much larger emphasis on creating innovative and creative decorations for the festival.
The mid-autumn festival is also celebrated outside of China in various countries due to the large Chinese population in these places. In many of these countries, the holiday has been adapted to local cultures, with some countries creating their own versions of the festival.
Interesting Facts or Trivia
- The mid-autumn festival is sometimes referred to as the Mooncake Festival because mooncakes are a staple food of the holiday.
- Chinese people love mooncakes so much that there are many different variations and flavors of the traditional pastry.
- The mid-autumn festival marks the harvest, and is a reminder of how people should stay humble and thankful for all that they have been blessed with.
- During the mid-autumn festival, Chinese people usually watch the traditional Chinese drama “Chang’e Flying to the Moon” (嫦娥奔月).
- The Mid-Autumn Festival is also celebrated by the Tibetan and Mongolian people.
Holiday Wishes
- May the bright full moon bring peace, joy, and happiness to your home.
- Wishing you and your family a full heart and a bright future.
- Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! Enjoy the beauty of the full moon!
- May light always be at the end of your tunnel. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!
- A peaceful and prosperous Mid-Autumn Festival to you and your loved ones!
Holiday Messages
- The full moon of the Mid-Autumn Festival also marks the coming of a new season. Ride the wave of happiness and prosperity that awaits you!
- May the beautiful full moon light up your path to success.
- May the spirit of the Mid-Autumn Festival bring you and your family closer together.
- Enjoying the full moon of the Mid-Autumn Festival is just the beginning of all the joys the season will bring.
- Wishing you a happy and prosperous Mid-Autumn Festival!
Holiday Quotes
- “The full moon of the Mid-Autumn Festival is a reminder of our endless fragility in life, but also of our infinite potential.” – Confucius
- “The moon is the sign of our unity, the sign of the kinship between heaven and earth.” – Sun Simiao
- “May the bright full moon light your way through life.” – Author Unknown
- “The full moon of the Mid-Autumn Festival marks the response of nature to our wishes and expectations.” – Lao Tzu
- “Celebrating the full moon of the Mid-Autumn Festival is a reminder that when we work together, great things can be achieved.” – Tao Te Ching
Other Popular Holiday Info
Mid-Autumn Festival has been celebrated in China for many centuries. It is considered to be a national holiday in the country and is a time for families and friends to get together and enjoy moon cakes, watch special plays, and light beautiful lanterns.
During the festival, tourists can also enjoy the colorful traditional Chinese operas and puppetry performances held in Beijing’s Temple of Heaven Park. Beijing also attracts people from different cities and countries due to its unique customs associated with the holiday, such as the Peking Opera, tea-tasting, and Beijing’s famous red lanterns.
In recent years, the mid-autumn festival has also become a popular opportunity for people to express their love and appreciation for friends and family in a unique and fun way. For example, there are many different versions of personalized moon cakes available on the market for customers to customize for their loved ones.
Overall, mid-autumn festival is a beloved Chinese holiday that celebrates family, friends and, most importantly, the beauty of the full moon. It is an occasion where friendships are made, delicacies enjoyed, and memories made.
Mid-Autumn Festival in China Also Called
The Moon Festival or the Chinese Moon Festival.
FUN FACT:
In year 1045–256 BC, Mid-Autumn Festival in China is celebrated on October 6 for the first time.HOLIDAY CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, please click here to contact us!

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