The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month every year. The Mid-Autumn Festival evolved from the moon worship on the eve of autumn in ancient times. The original "moon sacrifice festival" was on the autumnal equinox of the 24 solar terms. Due to the integration of calendars in the historical development, the lunar calendar was used, and it was later adjusted to the 15th day of August in the lunar calendar.

According to the Chinese calendar, the eighth month of the lunar calendar is the middle of autumn, the second month of autumn, and is called Zhongqiu. The fifteenth day of August is in the middle of "Zhongqiu", so it is called "Mid-Autumn Festival". The Mid-Autumn Festival is derived from the traditional "autumn equinox moon worship". As one of the important rituals of folk festivals, moon worship has gradually evolved into activities such as moon appreciation and moon singing.

Foods to eat during the Mid-Autumn Festival

1. Moon cakes

Eating moon cakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival is a long-standing traditional custom in my country. The wind is clear, the moon is bright, and the fragrance of cinnamon is refreshing. Every family eats moon cakes and admires the moon, celebrating the reunion with a unique flavor. Moon cakes, as a kind of food shaped like a full moon and filled with delicious fillings, appeared in the Northern Song Dynasty. The poet and gourmet Su Dongpo once wrote a poem: "Small cakes are like chewing the moon, with crispy and sweet fillings in them."

As a kind of food, called "moon cake", it first appeared in the Southern Song Dynasty's "Old Martial Arts: Steamed Food". At that time, people in Hangzhou had a habit of "giving each other moon cakes to symbolize reunion during the Mid-Autumn Festival." By the end of the Yuan Dynasty, mooncakes had become a Mid-Autumn Festival delicacy.

2. Osmanthus Cake

The Mid-Autumn Festival is the time when the sweet-scented osmanthus blooms. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, many families use osmanthus to make osmanthus cakes or soak it in osmanthus wine. Both osmanthus cake and osmanthus wine exude the unique fragrance of osmanthus without exception.

3. Field snails

Before and after the Mid-Autumn Festival, the field snails are empty and there are no small snails in the abdomen. Therefore, the meat is particularly plump and it is the best time to eat snails. Moreover, snail meat is rich in nutrients, and the vitamin A it contains is an important substance for the visual pigment of the eyes.

4. Pomelo

Pomelo is one of the must-have items during the Mid-Autumn Festival, because "pomelo" and "bless" are homophonic, and it also means hoping that the moon will bless you. After eating sweet mooncakes, eat some sweet and sour grapefruit, which is appetizing, relieves greasiness, and makes your mouth feel refreshing.