Mid-Autumn Festival Holiday in Taiwan

When did the Mid-Autumn Festival Holiday in Taiwan start?

The first recorded date of Mid-Autumn Festival Holiday in Taiwan being celebrated on October 1 was in the year 1903.

About Mid-Autumn Festival Holiday in Taiwan Holiday

The Mid-Autumn Festival Holiday is celebrated across Taiwan with much fanfare and enthusiasm every year. The Mid-Autumn Festival is an ancient Chinese lunar festival that traditionally falls on the 15th day of the 8th Chinese lunar month in the Chinese calendar. The night of the Mid-Autumn Festival is referred to as the ‘Night of Reunion’, as it is a time for extended family members and close friends to get together and celebrate.

Over the past few years, the Mid-Autumn Festival Holiday has become increasingly popular in Taiwan. During this time, most cities in the country become alive with locals and tourists alike gathering together to celebrate. In addition to the traditional activities of lanterns, mooncake eating, and lighting candles, people also go out to enjoy the family activities which take place around this time. Ranging from performances and firework displays to ballroom dancing and parades, there is always something happening that will keep everyone engaged and entertained.

Taiwan is a place of cultural diversity and the Mid-Autumn Festival is a perfect opportunity to experience it in all its glory. From the vibrant street markets to the traditional lantern parades, the country truly comes to life during this time. The Mid-Autumn Festival is an occasion to spend quality time with loved ones, while enjoying the sights, sounds and tastes of this beautiful corner of Asia.

Mid-Autumn Festival Holiday in Taiwan

The Mid-Autumn Festival Holiday is one of the most significant and celebrated traditional holidays in Taiwan. Known as the Moon Festival or Reunion Festival, it is celebrated in the middle of the eighth month in the Lunar calendar, around the middle of September, and during the most abundant full moon of the year.

History and Origin

The festival started over 2,000 years ago in China and had its roots in the worship of the moon’s goddess of Chang-e. The Chinese believed that the goddess lives in the moon and takes away their problems. To honor this legend, celebrations were created and spread through the Chinese culture and influenced their neighbors: Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and Taiwan.

It is believed that the Imperial Court of the Tang Dynasty was the first to hold public moon-viewing ceremonies during the Mid-Autumn Festival. During the Yuan Dynasty, these ceremonies were further established and given different names such as “Divine Temple of the Moon” and “God of Light Palace.”

The legend was also brought to Taiwan during a period of profound colonisation by the Chinese, when they began to worship the Moon Goddess and other related gods. People brought the traditions of the festival to Taiwan, and gradually the holiday was adapted with new symbolism that is linked to Taiwanese culture.

Significance and Meaning

During celebrate this holiday, people in Taiwan enjoy the full moon in the clear night sky and the beautiful lunar atmosphere. This time is also celebrated as a reunion, when family and friends come together, to share their joy, stories, and experiences.

The main symbolic representation of this holiday is the round shape of the moon cake, which is believed to reflect the sense of completeness and the celebrated unity of family, and it is often eaten together with family and friends around the table.

Traditions and Celebrations

The main traditions of this festival are the eating of moon cakes, the offering of sacrifices to the Moon goddess, and the family reunions. Moon cakes are special treat for the holiday and are made from flour, sugar, nuts, and sesame seeds. Different variations can be found, with some having a red bean paste center, and others with a filling of pork and salted eggs.

People in Taiwan also take an interest in moon-watching and often prepare special prayers, make wishes and sacrifice offerings to the moon. It is believed that by doing this, people will thank gods for helping them during their difficult times. This part of the tradition brings people from different parts of Taiwan to Revolution Square in Taipei – the biggest park in the capital – where they view the full moon together.

The celebration is also characterized by many cultural activities such as lantern exhibitions, folk art performances, tea-infused night gatherings, parades, puppet shows, and festivals. People visiting these celebrations often buy a variety of local souvenirs that attract both locals and tourists.

Geographical Spread

The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated in many places in Taiwan. One of the most popular places to experience it is Taipei, where the symbols of the festival are present everywhere. A variety of moon cakes can found in almost every store of the city and people freely take up the joy of eating the treats. As the festival season is deepened on the 14th day of the eighth month, street parades featuring the Moon Goddess are so common in Taipei and Taichung.

The cities of Kaohsiung, Hsinchu, and Tainan also celebrate the festival in the same way. Streets get crowded with people gathered around traditional lanterns, fireworks, performances, and the traditional moon cakes. Since the mid-1990s, with industrialization and more advanced technology, a larger variety of activities become involved in the celebration, adding a modern twist to an ancient tradition.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is also celebrated in other Asian countries such as China, Singapore, South Korea, and Vietnam. This two-millennia-old tradition is lucidly presented during the mid-autumn celebration in every nation by numerous performed rituals.

Modern Day Observations

Today, the Mid-Autumn Festival Holiday is celebrated with more attractions such as theme parks, carnivals, musical and singing shows, outdoor concerts, dance performances, rock climbing, and the popular dragon boat races. In the modern era, tourists and locals alike create unforgettable memories over the four nights of the festival.

Interesting Facts or Trivia

• The mooncakes usually take the shape of a full moon, their round shape symbolizes completeness and unity, reflecting the cultural values of family and friends reuniting during this holiday time.
• The Mooncake Festival Lanterne is used to beat darkness of the night.
• It is believed that during the festival, the Jade Rabbit inside the moon grinds the medicine of immortality that is then swallowed by the the moon goddess, Chang-e.
• The mid-autumn festival has evolved into a widely celebrated event for children, with cultural activities and newly invented activities such as kite flying, floating lanterns, and tiger-fighting.
• The legend of the Midnight Moon is popularly told in verses and poems. Some of them tell the romantic story of two lovers who were separated by the gods and were finally given one night, each year, to be together during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
• There is an old saying in Chinese: “With the Mid-Autumn Festival, family members fully enjoy the beauty of the full moon, and the children wander from home to visit other areas for fun.

Holiday Wishes

• Wishing you a magical Mid-Autumn Festival full of light and joy.
• Enjoy the full moon of harmony with your loved ones! Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!
• Hope the full moon brings abundance and joy to your home. Wishing you a blessed Mid-Autumn Festival!
• May your family and friends always be filled with happiness and good luck. Wishing you a peaceful Mid-Autumn Festival!
• Here’s to the round moon and the fullness of life. A blessed Mid-Autumn Festival to you!

Holiday Messages

• Just as the round moon brings completeness and unity, may this festival bring joy and harmony to your family and friends. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!
• In this joyous Mid-Autumn Festival season, may the lights of the full moon bring happiness and good fortune to you and your family.
• Cheers to a season of reunion and joy! Wishing you a joyful and meaningful Mid-Autumn Festival!
• Wishing your family and friends peace and fortune in this festive season of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Have a wonderful gathering!
• As you gather with your family and enjoy the festive season of the Mid-Autumn Festival, may the light of the moon bring luck and joy to you all!

Holiday Quotes

• “May the full moon light guide us and make the road of life clear and beautiful.” – Unknown
• “The moonlight brightens our hours, the mid-autumn festival is beautiful.” – Ancient Chinese Proverbs
• “The mid-autumn moon, Jaded look in a tree, and Autumn’s wind blowing, Full of lonely feeling.” – Li Shangyin
• “The season of joy, the gathering and feast, and the happy greeting of old and young – the mid-autumn festival” – Zhou Dunyi
• “When will the moon (the mid-autumn moon) be hung on high? When we’ll share the same cup under the Moon’s faint light?” ―Li Bai

Other Popular Holiday Info

The Mid-Autumn Festival comes with different names around Taiwan such as the Moon Festival and Reunion Festival. People in Taiwan give various explanations to the origin and meaning. Some use this opportunity to remember their ancestors, while others simply enjoy the beauty of the full moon.

The full moon also carries a deep symbolism for many groups and religions. Buddhism celebrates it as a procession of monks in their celebrations of the full moon, where they pray and meditate. Taoism sees it as a heavenly union that will bring emotional and spiritual balance.

In contemporary times, the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated as aactivity-filled day, with traditional rituals and games to bring back the fun and excitement of childhood. It is also celebrated with modern-day activities like street parades, puppet shows, and fireworks.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a wonderful holiday that symbolizes many important values such as reunion, happiness, and joy. No matter the cultural background or beliefs, it is a celebration that brings families and friends together to enjoy the presence of the full moon in the night sky.

How to Say "Mid-Autumn Festival Holiday in Taiwan" In Different Languages?