The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as "Yuexi", "Mid-Autumn Festival", "August Festival", etc., is one of the important traditional festivals in China, usually celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month.
On this day, people will carry out various customary activities to express their yearning and pursuit of a better life.
Some of these customs originated from the ancient tradition of worshiping the moon, while others were developed later, but they are all important parts of Chinese culture and have profound historical and cultural heritage.
1. Explanation of the origin of the custom: The custom of the Mid-Autumn Festival originated from the moon worship activities in ancient times.
According to legend, in ancient times, in order to worship the moon god and ancestors, people would hold moon sacrificial ceremonies on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month.
These rituals usually include sacrifices, dancing, singing and other activities to express respect and gratitude to the moon god and ancestors.
Over time, these moon worship rituals gradually evolved into today's Mid-Autumn Festival customs.
In addition, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also an important solar term, marking the beginning of autumn.
In traditional Chinese culture, autumn is regarded as a harvest season, and people will carry out various celebrations during this season to express their yearning and pursuit for a good harvest and a better life.
Therefore, the Mid-Autumn Festival has also become a festival to celebrate harvest and reunion.
2. Cases of Mid-Autumn Festival customs: 1. Watching the moon is one of the most important customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
On this day, people watch the moon outdoors or indoors to see the beautiful moon.
Some people will place tables, chairs, and candlesticks in the courtyard or balcony while admiring the moon, tasting tea, and eating moon cakes to increase the romantic and festive atmosphere.
2. Eating moon cakes Eating moon cakes is one of the traditional customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Moon cake is a traditional Chinese pastry, usually made of glutinous rice flour, bean paste, egg yolk and other materials, and has a round shape.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, people eat mooncakes to celebrate this festival of reunion.
Eating mooncakes also symbolizes family reunion and harmony.
3. Lighting lanterns Lighting lanterns is also one of the traditional customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, people light lanterns outdoors or indoors to add to the festive atmosphere.
There are many types of lanterns, some are paper, some are colored lanterns, some are gourd lanterns, etc.
4. Playing with lanterns Playing with lanterns is one of the traditional customs during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Lanterns are a traditional folk art, usually made of bamboo strips, colored paper, light bulbs and other materials, in various shapes.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, people play with lanterns outdoors or indoors to increase the festive atmosphere and celebrate this festival of reunion.
5. Worshiping the moon is one of the traditions of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
In ancient times, in order to worship the moon god and ancestors, people would carry out moon worship activities during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Nowadays, worshiping the moon is still an important customary activity.
In the moon worship ceremony, people will offer incense, flowers, fruits, wine, etc. to express their respect and gratitude to the moon god and ancestors.
6. Appreciating osmanthus During the Mid-Autumn Festival, osmanthus is in full bloom, so appreciating osmanthus has become a traditional custom.
Osmanthus is a fragrant flower whose fragrance can make people feel happy and comfortable.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, people will appreciate the sweet-scented osmanthus to increase the festive atmosphere and enjoy the wonderful feelings brought by the sweet-scented osmanthus. In short, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a festival full of traditional culture and historical heritage. It represents people’s yearning and desire for reunion and a better life.
Pursue.
During this festival, people will carry out various customary activities. These activities are colorful and have profound meanings, and have become an important part of Chinese culture.
3. Mid-Autumn Festival delicacies: The Mid-Autumn Festival delicacies are represented by mooncakes, and there are also other traditional delicacies. The following are some common Mid-Autumn Festival delicacies: 1. Mooncakes: The most representative delicacy of the Mid-Autumn Festival is mooncakes.
A round pastry, usually made of glutinous rice flour, bean paste, egg yolk and other materials. It tastes sweet and is an essential food during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
2. Pomelo: Pomelo is one of the common fruits during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Its pulp is fragrant and juicy, rich in vitamin C, and helps enhance immunity.
In addition, grapefruit peel can also be used to make preserves and other foods.
3. Lotus seed cake: Lotus seed cake is a pastry made with lotus seed as the main ingredient. It has a delicate texture, sweet but not greasy taste. It is a common dessert during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
4. Osmanthus cake: Osmanthus cake is a pastry made from glutinous rice flour, osmanthus and sugar. It has a sweet taste and is one of the traditional delicacies during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
5. Taro pastry: Taro pastry is a pastry made with taro as the main ingredient. It has a soft texture, sweet but not greasy texture. It is one of the traditional delicacies during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
In addition to the traditional delicacies mentioned above, there are also some special delicacies in different regions, such as Chaoshan beef jerky in Guangdong, eight-treasure rice in Fujian, chestnut cake in Hunan, etc.
In short, the Mid-Autumn Festival food is rich and diverse, and different regions and families have different food choices and preparation methods.