When did the Mid-Autumn Festival in Taiwan start?
About Mid-Autumn Festival in Taiwan Holiday
Greetings friends and family,
It is my pleasure to welcome you to Taiwan in celebration of their Mid-Autumn Festival. As you know, this is a special time for the people of Taiwan, when they gather to share in the joy of the harvest and celebrate the rich culture of the island.
First celebrated in the 3rd century BC, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a very old yet well preserved tradition. Its celebrations are believed to encourage good luck. On this day, people across Taiwan enjoy delicious food, adorn their homes with beautiful moon cakes and traditional lanterns, and take part in performances and parades. It is a wonderful celebration that is steeped in history and full of life and tradition.
So come join us for a once in a lifetime experience and take part in Taiwan's rich culture during this beautiful Mid-Autumn Festival!
From my home to yours, may peace, joy, and prosperity fill the East!
Sincerely,
Your Host
Mid-Autumn Festival in Taiwan
The Mid-Autumn Festival is an ancient festival which originated in China and is celebrated widely within East and Southeast Asian countries. In Taiwan, it is one of the most important holidays of the year, ranking in importance after Chinese New Year, and is celebrated by the vast majority of the country’s population. It is a joyous occasion and a time of year to be with family while enjoying traditional customs and activities.
History and Origin
The Mid-Autumn Festival has been celebrated since the Zhou Dynasty (1045 BC – 256 BC) but some believe the celebration dates back even further. One of the most popular Chinese myths tells the story of Chang’e, a young and beautiful woman living in a small village who loves to gaze up at the moon. Since the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 CE), this festival was known as the Moon Festival due to Chang’e’s story. It is believed to have become a public holiday during the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420 CE – 589 CE).
The festival has gradually evolved, with different elements being introduced throughout the years. During the Qing Dynasty (1636 CE – 1912 CE), mooncakes became associated with the festival, and this tradition has spread to contemporary Taiwan. Although the holiday has changed and grown over the centuries, the core concepts remain the same — it is an important time to gather with family and celebrate the spiritual and cultural meanings of the moon.
Significance and Meaning
In modern Taiwan, the Mid-Autumn Festival is an important time to celebrate family. Family members gather together, often with generations joining in, and it is a time to reflect on shared values, recognize the importance of family and celebrate traditions.
This is a time to express love and gratitude towards each other and celebrate the bond between parents, children and siblings. As modern lifestyles have evolved, with people moving away from their hometowns and extended family members living abroad, the holiday gives those who have moved away a chance to return home and join their loved ones in the celebration.
Another important aspect of the festival is the integration of spirituality. It is believed that the moon is a symbol of harmony, unity and peace, and the Mid-Autumn Festival is a time to make wishes for a bright and prosperous future, symbolized by the rising and setting of the moon.
Traditions and Celebrations
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for traditional activities and customs. Mooncakes are usually a major feature of the celebrations — these are round cakes filled with sweet ingredients such as red bean paste, mung bean paste, jujube paste, lotus seed paste and more. Often, mooncakes have a single yolk in the center of the cake, representing the full moon.
Fireworks are very popular in Taiwan, and the Mid-Autumn Festival is no exception. Fireworks can be seen across the country, though many larger cities have stricter regulations than rural areas. These celebratory explosives are often set off toward the end of the festival, usually around the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, which is the day on which the moon is at its fullest.
Lanterns are also a popular tradition. These typically feature the traditional shapes of birds, animals and deities. These paper lanterns are made with different shapes and sizes, decorated with twinkling LED lights or Chinese characters that can also refer to blessings and good fortune.
Geographical Spread
The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most widely celebrated festivals in Taiwan, and there are some regional variations in the observance of the holiday depending on the region. In Northern Taiwan, reverence for the moon, the Chang’e legend, and its spiritual significance is particularly emphasized. For example, many people visit an ancestral temple in New Taipei City to pay respect and light incense for their ancestors on the night of the festival.
In Central Taiwan, where the influence of Hakka culture is particularly strong, a different kind of mooncake is popular — the ‘sugarpaste mooncakes’ filled with taro, black sesame, cranberries, red dates, chestnuts, sweet potato, and other traditional stuffing.
Southern Taiwan also has its own versions of the Mid-Autumn Festival. In Pingtung County, the festival lasts two days and the traditional snacks of the Qi Yue & Meigui (7th Moon & Rose) Festival include steamed glutinous rice cakes, sweet dumplings, glutinous rice balls, river fish, and other local treats. People also visit ancestral temples for ancestral worship with offerings such as Chenpi, Longgan, theory flowers, sago, and bagoong.
Modern Day Observations
Over the years, the Mid-Autumn Festival has evolved with the addition of new and modern interpretations. One example is the use of modern technology at the festivals, such as digital moon lanterns, modern electronic light displays, and robotics.
The holiday season also brings with it Mid-Autumn Festival-themed marketing campaigns in which leading companies offer special discounts and exclusive collects to celebrate. The increasingly popular trend of eating out during the festival is also quite popular – many people gather with their family for a special meal out to celebrate the day.
Interesting Facts or Trivia
• The Mid-Autumn Festival is sometimes referred to as the Chinese ‘Thanksgiving’, as it is a time to celebrate with family, be thankful for the blessings of life and for a prosperous future.
• Mooncakes, a delicacy associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival, were used to hide messages during the Yuan Dynasty as a way of spreading news of a revolution against Mongol rule.
• In Taiwan, there is a tradition of writing couplets on two pieces of red paper and hanging them on a wall on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival. The couplets represent blessings of luck, fortune and health for the coming year.
• According to Chinese legend, a magical white rabbit lives on the moon where it is known to pound an elixir of life.
• There is a special beverage served during the Mid-Autumn Festival in Taiwan known as ‘gui bing’, which is made with toasted wheat, ginger and yeast.
• Mooncakes are known for their high calorie and fat so it is believed that it is best to eat them in moderation.
• It is a Fengshui practice to place the mooncakes northward of your table setting — this is said to bring long life, luck and abundance.
Holiday Wishes
• May the light of the moon bring you joy, health and fortune.
• Wishing a joyful Mid-Autumn Festival for family and friends.
• Wishing you an abundance of peace, joy and prosperity.
• May the spirit of the Mid-Autumn Festival fill your home with happiness.
• May all your wishes and dreams come true.
Holiday Messages
• May your year be filled with joy and good fortune.
• May the festival bring you happiness and love.
• This is a time to be in the company of family and friends, to spread joy and celebrate the coming of fall.
• May peace and tranquility fill your home and family.
• May beauty and harmony be yours all year round.
Holiday Quotes
• “May the full moon of this festival night bring you a peaceful and joyful fortune.” – Unknown
• “A full autumn moon illuminates the festival night.” – Chinese Proverb
• “In the midst of these festivities, may friends and family be reunited, hearts be rejoiced.” – Unknown
• “As the bright full moon shines its light upon us, so may the Mid-Autumn Festival bring bright joy and enlighten our hearts.” – Unknown
• “Wishing you a joyous Mid-Autumn Festival full of festivities, prosperity, and abundance.” – Unknown
Other Popular Holiday Info
The Mid-Autumn Festival is an important holiday that celebrates family, gives thanks for harvest and brings people together in a positive and upbeat spirit. The festival celebrates the values of unity, togetherness and harmony that are deeply rooted in Chinese culture. As such, the festival has become an important cultural bridge between the Chinese diaspora and their homeland.
The festival is celebrated not only in Taiwan, but all around the world. Indeed, many cities have adapted the holiday to fit their local culture. Cities such as Vancouver, San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York are all known to celebrate the festival. No matter the region, the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrates the spirit of togetherness and gives all a chance to become a part of the spirit of this Chinese tradition.
On the night of the festivities, the moon is one of the most beloved elements of the holiday. The full and bright moon is said to symbolize reunion and is believed to have a spiritual significance in Chinese folklore. Therefore, spending some time admiring the moon and reflecting on what the holiday means is an important part of the celebration.
In conclusion, the Mid-Autumn Festival in Taiwan is a joyful celebration with a rich and long history that is deeply steeped in tradition. It is an important holiday across East and Southeast Asia and has been adopted in many cities around the world. The core values of the festival, which includes coming together with family and friends, appreciating the blessings of life and unifying with the spirit of Chinese culture, remain unchanged and are reflected in the way that the holiday is observed today.
Mid-Autumn Festival in Taiwan Also Called
The Moon Festival.Countries where "Mid-Autumn Festival in Taiwan" is celebrated:
FUN FACT:
In year 1736, Mid-Autumn Festival in Taiwan 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!