The traditional culture of mooncakes is as follows:

The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the important traditional festivals in China, and also one of the treasures of Chinese culture. Mooncakes, as the iconic food of the Mid-Autumn Festival, are a unique expression of Chinese culture, containing deep cultural connotations and of great cultural significance. This paper will discuss the cultural significance and modern development of mooncakes in the Mid-Autumn Festival, starting from three aspects: the historical development of mooncakes, cultural connotations and modern development.

I. The History of Mooncake

Mooncake, a traditional pastry used to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. And the history of mooncakes can be traced back to the Han Dynasty in ancient China, when they were made for moon worship. In ancient times, the moon was considered to be a representation of women, and the shape of mooncakes was therefore mainly round. By the Tang Dynasty, mooncakes had become an independent snack and were mentioned in a poem, "Mid-autumn mooncakes can be contemplated".

During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, mooncakes also became an important food for people to enjoy the moon and were widely spread. In recent times, mooncakes have been enriched in terms of production techniques and varieties, and have become one of the symbols of the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations.

The Cultural Connotation of Mooncake

Mooncake is not only a kind of food, but also an embodiment of traditional Chinese culture. First of all, the production of mooncakes requires many links, involving the production of pastries, packaging, decoration and other aspects, many of which are handmade, requiring a lot of time and energy, which is also a reflection of labor. Secondly, mooncakes come in a variety of shapes, including round, square and plum blossom, and each shape has a different meaning.

For example, a round mooncake signifies reunion and wholeness, symbolizing family harmony and the coming together of hearts; a square mooncake signifies fairness and rules, symbolizing culture and etiquette, etc. Last but not least, mooncakes also imply the emotional and cultural heritage of the Chinese people. The Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for family reunion, and mooncakes are also a symbol of affection and love, conveying people's thoughts and care for their families and loved ones.

Third, the modern development of mooncakes

With the development of the times, mooncakes are also improving and innovating, presenting a new look and style. In the production process, mooncakes from the traditional handmade gradually shifted to machine production, production efficiency has been greatly improved, but also to ensure the quality and reliability.

In terms of flavors, mooncakes have expanded from the traditional egg yolk and lotus seed paste flavors to a variety of novel flavors such as chocolate, milk tea and fruit. In addition, the packaging and marketing methods of mooncakes have also been greatly upgraded, high-end gift boxes and exquisite appearance of mooncakes has become the fashion of the moment.