Mid-Autumn Festival
Alias: autumn evening, August Festival, August and a half.
Festival date: August 15th of the lunar calendar.
Holiday food: moon cakes and osmanthus wine.
Origin:
The word Mid-Autumn Festival first appeared in Zhou Li. The Book of Rites and the Moon Order said: "The Mid-Autumn Festival moon nourishes aging and follows the porridge diet."
First, the Book of Rites records that "the sun rises in spring and the moon sets in autumn", which means that as early as the Spring and Autumn Period, emperors began to offer sacrifices to the moon and Yue Bai. Later, aristocratic officials and scholars followed suit and gradually spread to the people. It originated from the sacrificial activities of ancient emperors.
Second, the origin of Mid-Autumn Festival is related to agricultural production. The word "autumn" is interpreted as "autumn when crops are ripe" Crops and various fruits are maturing one after another. In order to celebrate the harvest and express their joy, farmers regard the Mid-Autumn Festival as a festival. "Mid-Autumn Festival" means the middle of autumn. August in the lunar calendar is a month in autumn, and the 15th is a day in this month. Therefore, the Mid-Autumn Festival may be a custom passed down from the ancient Autumn Newspaper.
It was not until the early years of the Tang Dynasty that the Mid-Autumn Festival became a fixed festival. The Book of Emperor Taizong recorded the Mid-Autumn Festival on August 15. The prevalence of Mid-Autumn Festival began in the Song Dynasty, and it became one of the major festivals in China in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. This is also the second largest traditional festival in China after the Spring Festival.
Myths and legends:
Legend has it that a long time ago, in ancient times, it rained for ten days at the same time, scorching crops and making people miserable. A hero named Hou Yi has infinite power. He sympathized with the suffering people, drew his bow, shot down more than nine suns in one breath, and ordered the last sun to rise and set on time for the benefit of the people.
Hou Yi's wife's name is Chang 'e. Once, Hou Yi asked the Queen Mother for a package of magic medicine that could become immortal after taking it. But Hou Yi could not bear to part with his wife, so he gave the magic medicine to Chang 'e and hid it. Three days later, later generations went out to do business. Shortly after Hou Yi left, bandits broke into Chang 'e's home with swords and threatened Chang 'e to hand over the magic medicine. Chang 'e knew that she was no match for bandits, so she took out the magic medicine and swallowed it in a crisis. Chang 'e swallowed the medicine and immediately floated off the ground, rushed out of the window and flew into the sky. Because Chang 'e was worried about her husband, she flew to the nearest moon and became a fairy.
In the evening, when Hou Yi came home, the maids cried and told what happened during the day. Hou Yi was surprised and angry, and drew his sword to kill the villain. The bandits have escaped. Hou Yi was so angry that he looked up at the night sky and called for Chang 'e. At this time, he found that the moon today was particularly bright and there was a swaying figure resembling Chang 'e. After hearing the news that the Goddess Chang'e flying to the moon had become an immortal, people set up a table incense under the moon to pray for good luck and peace to the kind Chang 'e. Since then, the custom of Yue Bai in Mid-Autumn Festival has spread among the people.
Holidays:
Since 2008, Mid-Autumn Festival has been listed as a legal holiday in Chinese mainland. If the day falls on Saturday and Sunday, give a day off next Monday.
In Taiwan Province Province, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a one-day holiday. If it overlaps with Saturday and Sunday, it won't be replenished. However, if there is only one working day from the weekend, the working day will be changed to a holiday, and Saturday will be chosen to make up lessons.
Hong Kong Mid-Autumn Festival public holiday is scheduled for August 16th of the lunar calendar (the day after the Mid-Autumn Festival). If it is sunset on a week, take a day off on Monday; If it happens on Saturday, there is no compensatory time off.
South Korea lists the Mid-Autumn Festival as a legal holiday, with a three-day holiday.
Traditional activities:
Sacrifice to the moon, Yue Bai, moon viewing, tide watching, lighting, riddles, eating moon cakes, etc.