Rites of Zhou. According to historical records, the festival of offering sacrifices to the moon by ancient emperors was August 15th of the lunar calendar, which coincided with half of Sanqiu, hence the name "Mid-Autumn Festival". Because this festival is in August in autumn, it is also called "Autumn Festival", "August Festival", "August Festival" and "Mid-Autumn Festival". There are also beliefs and related custom activities to pray for reunion, so it is also called "Reunion Festival" and "Daughter's Day". Because the main activities of Mid-Autumn Festival are around the moon, it is also commonly known as "Moon Festival", "Moon Festival", "Moon Festival" and "Moon Worship Festival". In the Tang Dynasty, Mid-Autumn Festival was also called "Correcting the Moon". The prevalence of Mid-Autumn Festival began in the Song Dynasty, and by the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it was as famous as New Year's Day and became one of the major festivals in China. About the origin of Mid-Autumn Festival, there are roughly three kinds: it originated from the worship of the moon in ancient times, the custom of singing and dancing under the moon to find a spouse, and the ancient custom of paying homage to the land god in autumn. In order to inherit the national culture and enhance the national cohesion, the Mid-Autumn Festival has been listed as a national legal holiday in the State Council since 2008. The state attaches great importance to the protection of intangible cultural heritage. On May 20, 2006, the festival was approved by the State Council to be included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage lists.
Origin of the festival
The word "Mid-Autumn Festival" was first seen in Zhou Li. According to the ancient Chinese calendar, the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month is in the middle of August in autumn, so the legend of Chang 'e.
Called "Mid-Autumn Festival". There are four seasons in a year, and each season is divided into three parts: Meng, Zhong and Ji. Therefore, the second month in the middle of autumn is called Mid-Autumn, and it was not until the early years of the Tang Dynasty that the Mid-Autumn Festival became a fixed festival. The Book of the New Tang Dynasty, Volume 15, Book of Rites and Music, contains "Spring and Mid-Autumn Festival were released in Wenxuan Wang and Wu Cheng Wang", and "In the 19th year of Kaiyuan, the Taigong Shangfu Temple was set up, with Liu Hou Zhang Liang as its partner. In mid-spring and Mid-Autumn Festival, there is a sacrifice, and the system of sacrifice and music is like a text. " Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as Mid-Autumn Festival, Reunion Festival and August Festival, is the second largest traditional festival after Spring Festival. The prevalence of Mid-Autumn Festival began in the Song Dynasty, and by the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it was as famous as New Year's Day and became one of the major festivals in China.