Introduction to the Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival is the second largest traditional festival in my country after the Spring Festival. The festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. The name "Mid-Autumn Festival" is also called "Zhongqiu Festival"; and because this festival falls in autumn and August, it is also called "Autumn Festival", "August Festival" and "August Meeting"; it also has beliefs and related beliefs about praying for reunion. It is a festival and customary activity, so it is also called "Reunion Festival" and "Girls' Day". Because the main activities of the Mid-Autumn Festival revolve around the "moon", it is also commonly known as the "Moon Festival", "Moon Eve", "Moon Chasing Festival", "Moon Playing Festival" and "Moon Worshiping Festival"; in the Tang Dynasty, the Mid-Autumn Festival was also known as It is called the "Duanzheng Month". Regarding the origins of the Mid-Autumn Festival, there are roughly three types: it originated from the ancient worship of the moon, the custom of singing and dancing under the moon to find a partner, and the ancient custom of worshiping the earth god in the autumn reprint.
The origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival
The word "Mid-Autumn Festival" was first seen in "The Rites of Zhou". According to the ancient Chinese calendar, the 15th day of the eighth lunar month falls in mid-August of the autumn of the year, so it is called "Mid-Autumn Festival". There are four seasons in a year, and each season is divided into three parts: Meng, Zhong and Ji. The second month of the three autumns is called Zhongqiu, so the Mid-Autumn Festival is also called "Zhongqiu".
With the continuous development of society, the ancients have given many legends to the moon, from the toad in the moon to the jade rabbit making medicine, from Wu Gang cutting laurel to Chang'e flying to the moon. Their rich imagination has painted a picture of the world of the moon palace. Various scenic spots. From the Han Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty, poets and poets have chanted about the moon and the events in the middle of the moon. The full moon on the 15th day of August has become an excellent time to express emotions. During the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Northern Song Dynasty, officials officially designated August 15th as the Mid-Autumn Festival, which was meant to be in the middle of the Three Autumn Festivals, when all people would celebrate together. On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the bright moon is in the sky and the clear light fills the earth. People regard the full moon as a symbol of reunion, and August 15th as the day for the reunion of relatives. Therefore, the Mid-Autumn Festival is also called the "Reunion Festival".
The Mid-Autumn Festival has become a major festival of the year, and it has an extremely subtle relationship with the imperial examination. In my country's feudal society, opening up subjects to obtain scholars has always been a major event that the rulers attach great importance to. The three-year Autumn Palace Competition happens to be held in August. When the scenery and passion are combined, people will praise those who take the high school exam as the ones who win the title in the middle of the month. Every Mid-Autumn Festival, grand celebrations must be held, which has become an important custom for the people of the whole society. It has remained popular through the dynasties. The Mid-Autumn Festival has gradually become one of the three major festivals of the Han people in my country (Spring Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival).
Legends of the Mid-Autumn Festival
Chang'e's Flight to the Moon
According to legend, one year in ancient times, ten suns appeared in the sky, causing the earth to smoke and the sea water to dry up. , the people see that they can no longer live.
This incident alarmed a hero named Hou Yi. He climbed to the top of the Kunlun Mountains, used his supernatural power, drew his magic bow, and shot down nine superfluous suns in one go.
Hou Yi accomplished extraordinary feats and was respected and loved by the people. Many people with lofty ideals came here to learn from him. The treacherous and evil-minded Peng Meng also sneaked in.
Soon, Hou Yi married a beautiful and kind-hearted wife named Chang'e. In addition to spreading his skills and hunting, Hou Yi stayed with his wife all day long. People envied this loving couple with talent and beauty.
One day, Hou Yi went to Kunlun Mountain to visit friends and seek enlightenment. He happened to meet the Queen Mother who was passing by, and asked the Queen Mother for a package of elixir. It is said that if you take this medicine, you can immediately ascend to heaven and become an immortal.
However, Hou Yi was reluctant to leave his wife, so he had to temporarily give the elixir to Chang'e for collection. Chang'e hid the medicine in the treasure box on the dressing table, but Pengmeng saw it.
Three days later, Hou Yi led his disciples out for hunting. Peng Meng, who had evil intentions, pretended to be sick and stayed behind.
Soon after Hou Yi led everyone away, Peng Meng broke into the backyard of the inner house with a sword and forced Chang'e to hand over the elixir.
Chang'e knew that she was no match for Peng Meng. In the critical moment, she made a prompt decision, turned around, opened the treasure box, took out the elixir and swallowed it in one gulp.
Chang'e swallowed the medicine, and her body immediately floated off the ground, rushed out of the window, and flew to the sky. Because Chang'e cared about her husband, she flew to the moon closest to the world and became an immortal.
In the evening, Hou Yi returned home, and the maids cried about what happened during the day. Hou Yi was frightened and angry. He drew his sword and went to kill the villain, but Peng Meng had already escaped. Hou Yi was so angry that he beat his chest and stamped his feet and screamed. The grief-stricken Hou Yi looked up at the night sky and called his beloved wife's name. At this time, he was surprised to find that today's moon was particularly bright and bright, and there was a swaying figure that looked like Chang'e.
Hou Yi hurriedly sent people to Chang'e's favorite back garden, set up an incense table, placed her favorite sweetmeats and fresh fruits, and offered sacrifices to Chang'e who was attached to him in the moon palace.
After the people heard the news that Chang'e flew to the moon and became an immortal, they set up incense tables under the moon and prayed to the kind-hearted Chang'e for good luck and peace. From then on, the custom of worshiping the moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival spread among the people.
The story of Chang'e flying to the moon sings and praises Chang'e with a distinctive attitude and brilliant colors. Compared with the records about Chang'e in ancient documents, it can be seen that people have done a lot of processing to the story of Chang'e flying to the moon. Modification makes the image of E'e as beautiful as the moon and makes it in line with people's pursuit of beauty. Contrary to the widely circulated modern "Chang'e flying to the moon", "Lingxian" compiled by "Quan Shang Gu Wen" records the story of "Chang'e turning into a toad": "Chang'e, Yi's wife, stole the Queen Mother's immortal medicine and took it, and flew to the moon. Month. In the future, there will be yellow.
Huang Zhanzhi said: "Ji, Pian Pian returns to my sister, and will go west alone. When the sky is dark, don't be frightened. There will be great prosperity later." ’ Chang’e then held her body up on the moon and became a toad. "After Chang'e turned into a toad, she was punished to pound the elixir all day long in the moon palace, and lived a lonely and miserable life. Li Shangyin once lamented Chang'e in a poem: "Chang'e should regret stealing the elixir, and the blue sea and blue sky are in her heart every night. "
Wu Gang is cutting down the osmanthus
Looking up at the bright moon, you can see some dark shadows in it. In our country, it is said that this is Wu Gang cutting down the osmanthus. In the Tang Dynasty, the myth of Wu Gang cutting down the osmanthus was interpreted. Legend has it that the laurel tree in the moon is five hundred feet high. This laurel tree is not only tall, but also has a magical self-healing function. There was a man from Xihe named Wu Minggang. He was a woodcutter and was obsessed with immortality, but he always refused to concentrate on his studies. The Emperor of Heaven was furious and placed him in the Moon Palace, where he ordered him to cut down the osmanthus tree. He said, "If you cut down the osmanthus tree, you will gain immortality." "But every time Wu Gang struck the axe, the wound on the tree healed immediately. Day after day, Wu Gang's wish to cut down the osmanthus was still not fulfilled. Therefore, Wu Gang cut down the osmanthus in the moon palace all year round, but he could never cut down the tree. And he also
Jade Rabbit Pounds Medicine
According to legend, three gods turned into three poor old men and asked for food from foxes, monkeys, and rabbits. Both foxes and monkeys had food to eat. Only the rabbit was helpless. Later, the rabbit said: "Eat my meat!" "He jumped into the fire and cooked himself. The gods were so moved that they sent the rabbit to the Moon Palace and became the Jade Rabbit.
The Jade Rabbit Enters the Moon Palace
Legend of a long time ago, there was a man The rabbits who have been cultivating for thousands of years have become immortals. They have four lovely daughters, all of whom are pure white and smart.
One day, the Jade Emperor summoned the male rabbit to the Heavenly Palace, and he reluctantly left his wife and children. , walking on the clouds to the Heavenly Palace. When it came to the Nantian Gate, it saw Taibai Jinxing leading the heavenly general escorting Chang'e away. The Rabbit Fairy didn't know what happened, so he asked a god guarding the Heavenly Gate. After hearing what happened to her, the Rabbit Fairy felt that Chang'e had suffered innocently and sympathized with her. However, she had little power, so what could she do to help? Thinking of how lonely and sad Chang'e was when she was alone in the moon palace, it suddenly occurred to her that it would be nice if she had someone to accompany her. His four daughters, it immediately flew home.
The rabbit fairy told the female rabbit what happened to Chang'e, and said that she wanted to send a child to accompany Chang'e. Although the female rabbit deeply sympathized with Chang'e. He couldn't bear to leave his precious daughter, which was like cutting off the flesh of his heart! The daughters also couldn't bear to leave their parents, and they all burst into tears. Will you accompany me? Chang'e was implicated in trying to save the people. Can we not sympathize with her? Children, we can’t just think of ourselves! "
The children understood their father's intention and expressed their willingness to go. The male rabbit and the female rabbit smiled with tears in their eyes. They decided to let the youngest daughter go.
The Little Jade Rabbit bid farewell to his parents and sisters and went to live with Chang'e in the Moon Palace!
Xuanzong's Roaming in the Moon Palace
In the Tang Dynasty, the most legendary thing was the legend of the Night Palace. It is said that Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty, Shen Tianshi and Taoist Hongdu were looking at the moon in the Mid-Autumn Festival. Suddenly Xuanzong wanted to visit the Moon Palace, so the Heavenly Master did what he did. The three of them walked up the blue clouds together and roamed the Moon Palace. However, there was a heavy guard in front of the palace and they could not enter, so they could only stay outside. Looking down at the imperial city of Chang'an, I suddenly heard the sound of fairy sounds, which were so clear and beautiful that they were melodious! Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty had always been familiar with the music, so he kept it in his heart. Smell it several times! " Later, Xuanzong recalled the music and singing of Xian'e in the Moon Palace, and composed and choreographed the music himself. This is the famous "Nitang Yuyi Song" in history.
The Legend of Mooncakes
Mooncakes Symbolizing reunion, it is a necessary sacrifice to worship the moon and the Lord of the Earth during the Mid-Autumn Festival. The custom of eating mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival was handed down from the late Yuan Dynasty.
According to legend, the people of the Central Plains were unwilling to accept the rule of the Mongols. , people with lofty ideals all wanted to revolt against the Yuan Dynasty, but they wanted to unite the forces of resistance, but they were unable to deliver the news, so Liu Bowen thought of a strategy to spread rumors of a plague and asked people to buy mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival to avoid disaster. After I bought the mooncakes and cut them open when I got home, I found a note inside that said "Uprising on the 15th of August", so the people responded and overthrew the Yuan Dynasty in one fell swoop.
Mid-Autumn Festival Customs
Mid-Autumn Festival is a very ancient custom in our country. According to historical records, as early as the Zhou Dynasty, ancient emperors worshiped the sun at the spring equinox, the ground at the summer solstice, the moon at the autumnal equinox, and the winter solstice. The custom of worshiping the sky. The places of worship are called the Temple of the Sun, the Temple of the Earth, the Temple of the Moon, and the Temple of Heaven. The Moon Altar in Beijing is where the emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties worshiped the moon. The morning sun in spring and the moon in autumn. As the sun rises, the moon rises. "The Xiyue Festival here refers to worshiping the moon at night. This custom is not only pursued by the court and upper-class nobles, but also gradually affects the people with the development of society.
Literati appreciate the moon
The custom of appreciating the moon originated from worshiping the moon, and the serious worship turned into a relaxed and joyful activity. The folk activity of appreciating the moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival started around the Wei and Jin Dynasties, but it did not become a custom until the Tang Dynasty. Playing with the moon was quite popular, and many poets included poems about the moon in their famous works. By the Song Dynasty, a Mid-Autumn folk festival centered on moon appreciation was formed, and it was officially designated as the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Different from the people in the Tang Dynasty, people in the Song Dynasty were more sentimental about the moon when appreciating the moon. They often used the waxing and waning of clouds and clear moons to describe human emotions. Even on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the clear light of the moon could not hide the sadness of the Song people. But for people in the Song Dynasty, the Mid-Autumn Festival has another form, that is, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a festival of secular joy: "Before the Mid-Autumn Festival, all shops sell new wine, noble families decorate their terraces and pavilions, and private families compete in restaurants to play in the moonlight and play music. Hearings from thousands of miles away, playing and sitting until dawn" ("Tokyo Menghua Lu"). The Mid-Autumn Festival in the Song Dynasty was a sleepless night. The night market was open all night and there were endless tourists enjoying the moon.
Folk worshiping the moon
After the Ming and Qing Dynasties, due to the relationship of the times, the practical utilitarian factors in social life became more prominent, and the secular interest in festivals became more and more intense every year. "The lyrical and mythological literati tradition centered on it has weakened, and utilitarian worship, prayer and secular emotions and wishes constitute the main form of the Mid-Autumn Festival customs of ordinary people. Therefore, "folk worshiping the moon" has become a symbol of people's desire for reunion, happiness and happiness; they use the moon to express their feelings.
"Burning pagodas"
In a few places, there is a custom of burning pagodas during the Mid-Autumn Festival. When night falls and the moonlight is everywhere, friends come to the open space in front of and behind the house. , pick up broken bricks and tiles, pile up small pagodas, and set up large pagodas in some large open spaces or squares, similar to the main pagoda. The pagoda is hollow and stuffed with firewood. This kind of activity is often carried out by adults with great interest. Come and participate. Especially some elderly people will set up a small offering table in front of the pagoda. On the table, they will place moon cakes, sweet lotus roots, oranges, grapefruits and other round offerings, and light incense and candles. When all the pagodas were piled up, someone shouted: "Light the fire——" Then they lit the firewood in the pagodas together, and the red flames rose and sparks exploded. After a while, the pagodas were burning red inside and outside. They were very spectacular and beautiful.
It is said that this custom is related to the righteous act of resisting Yuan soldiers. After the establishment of the Yuan Dynasty, it carried out bloody rule over the Han people, so the Han people resisted unyieldingly. Various places organized riots on the Mid-Autumn Festival and lit fires on the top of the pagoda as a sign. Similar to the Fenghuotai lighting uprising, although this kind of resistance was suppressed, the custom of burning pagodas remained. This legend is similar to the legend of eating mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Moonlight Horse
In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the image of the Moon God underwent important changes. From the early pure Taoist moon palace picture with Chang'e as the main theme, it evolved into the Moonlight Bodhisattva and the Moonlight Bodhisattva that blended Buddhism and Taoism. The secular image of the Jade Rabbit and the Jade Rabbit. During this period, people worshiped moonlight paper with the Moonlight Bodhisattva painted on it, also called "Moonlight Horse". Fucha Dunchong's "The Years of Yanjing" (1906). Records: "The moonlight horse is made of paper, with the lunar star king like a Bodhisattva on the top, and the moon palace and a medicine-making rabbit on the bottom. The figure is standing and holding a pestle. The algae color is exquisite and resplendent. It is sold in many shops. The longer one is seven or eight feet, the shorter one is two or three feet. There are two flags on the top, made of red and green, or yellow, and they are burned with incense and worshiped towards the moon. After the sacrifice, they are burned together with thousands of pieces of gold ingots. " < /p>
Rabbit Master
The origin of Rabbit Master dates back to the late Ming Dynasty. Ji Kun of the Ming Dynasty (who lived around 1636) wrote in "The Remaining Manuscript of Kao Pavilion": "On the Mid-Autumn Festival in Beijing, people often wear rabbits in the shape of mud, with clothes and hats sitting like human figures, and children worship them." By the Qing Dynasty. , the function of Lord Rabbit has been transformed from offering sacrifices to the moon to being a Mid-Autumn Festival toy for children. The production is also becoming more and more sophisticated. Some are dressed as military commanders wearing armor and robes, some have paper flags or umbrellas on their backs, and some are sitting or standing. Sitting there are unicorns, tigers, leopards and so on. There are also vendors dressed as rabbit-headed people, or barber masters, or sewing shoes, selling wontons, tea soup, and so on.
“Every Mid-Autumn Festival, some clever people in the city would use loess to roll out images of toads and rabbits for sale, and they were called Lord Rabbits.” In the old days, there were often stalls selling Lord Rabbits in the Dongsi Archway area of ??Beijing, specializing in the sale of toads and rabbits for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Use Lord Rabbit. In addition, Nanzhi Store also sells incense candles. This Lord Rabbit has been personified through the bold creation of folk artists. It has the body of a rabbit and holds a jade pestle. Later, some people imitated opera characters and carved Lord Rabbit into warriors with golden helmets, some riding lions, elephants and other beasts, and some riding peacocks, cranes and other birds. In particular, the rabbit riding a tiger is a strange thing, but it is a bold creation of folk artists. There is also a kind of rabbit with movable elbow joints and chin, commonly known as "Bada Zui", which is more lovable. Although it is an offering for worshiping the moon, it is actually a wonderful toy for children.
On the streets of Beijing decades ago, even Beijingers over sixty years old can still remember it. As soon as July 15th passes, the Rabbit Master stall is set up. In the five archways at the front door, in front of the Drum Tower at the back door, Xidan, Dongsi and other places, there are rabbit stalls everywhere, large and small, high and low, and they are extremely lively.
Cake betting
There is also a custom of betting on cakes in Xiamen. Put 6 stocks in a large bowl. According to the number of red ideas in them, there are 6 levels of awards: first show, second move, fourth advance, triple red, duel and number one.
The custom of worshiping and worshiping the moon is also popular among ethnic minorities. On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Dai people of Yunnan have a popular custom of "moon worship". According to the legend of the Dai people, the moon was transformed by Yan Jian, the third son of the emperor. Yanjian is a brave and strong young man. He once led the Dai people to defeat the enemy and won the love of the Dai folks. Later, after his unfortunate death, he turned into the moon, rose to the sky, and continued to emit soft moonlight, bringing light to the Dai people in the darkness. Every Mid-Autumn Festival, young men take their gunpowder guns and go up to the mountains to shoot finches and pheasants early in the morning to hunt for festive game.
Girls and wives are busy catching fish in lakes and ponds. They were all busy preparing the festive dinner. The old lady was busy pounding glutinous rice and making food of different sizes. She placed a round glutinous rice cake on each of the four table corners, and put a stick of cold incense on each cake. As soon as the moon rises over the mountains and forests, cold incense is lit, and the whole family begins to "worship the moon." Then, gunpowder guns are fired into the air to show respect for the hero Yanjian. Finally, the whole family sat happily around the small square table, tasting food, talking and laughing, admiring the moon, and then left happily.
When the Oroqen people worship the moon, they put a basin of water in the open space, place the sacrifices, then kneel in front of the basin and worship the moon; Then, people keep hitting the moon in the basin with small stones, commonly known as "beating the moon"; the Zhuang people in western Guangxi have a more typical activity of "sacrifice to the moon and invite gods". , people set up an offering table in the open air at the beginning and end of the village to place sacrifices and incense burners. On the right side of the table, there is a tree branch or bamboo branch about one foot high, which symbolizes the social tree and also serves as the ladder for the moon god to descend to earth and ascend to heaven. Here are preserved Ancient moon myth factors. The whole activity is divided into four stages: inviting the moon god to come down to earth, with one or two women acting as the spokesperson of the moon god; antiphonal songs between gods and men; fortune telling by the moon god; and singers singing songs to send the moon god back to heaven.
Round Mooncakes on August 15th
On the Mid-Autumn Festival, people eat mooncakes to show "reunion". Moon cakes, also called Hu cakes, palace cakes, moon cakes, harvest cakes, reunion cakes, etc., were offerings to worship the moon god during the Mid-Autumn Festival in ancient times. According to historical records, as early as the Yin and Zhou Dynasties 3,000 years ago, people had already made "Taishi Cake, thin in edge and thick in heart" to commemorate Taishi Wen Zhong. In the Han Dynasty, Zhang Qian was sent to the Western Regions and introduced walnuts, sesame seeds, etc., and round "Hu cakes" with walnut kernels as fillings appeared. During the reign of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, Li Jing went to conquer the Huns and returned in triumph during the Mid-Autumn Festival. At that time, a Tibetan businessman offered Hu cakes. Li Yuan was very happy to receive the cake. He pointed at the bright moon in the sky and said: "The cake should be given to the toad (the moon)." Then he gave it to the ministers to eat. If this is true, this may be the beginning of the sharing of mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival. But the word "mooncake" was first seen in the red caltrop cake of Wu Zimu in the Southern Song Dynasty. Moon cakes are round, and the era when they were given the meaning of reunion was the Ming Dynasty. Liu Tong's "Scenery of the Imperial Capital" said: "On August 15th, when worshiping the moon, the fruit cakes must be round." Tian Rucheng said in "West Lake Tour Chronicles" : "August 15th is called the Mid-Autumn Festival, and people also use mooncakes as gifts to celebrate reunion." Shen Bang also described the grand occasion of making mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival in Beijing in the Ming Dynasty in "Wanshu Miscellaneous Notes": Everyone in the neighborhood "made mooncakes to look like each other." The cakes vary in size and are called moon cakes. In the market, the fruit is used as filling, and the name is strange. One cake is worth hundreds of dollars. "The ingenious cake-making workers make various tricks on the moon cakes," Peng Yunzhang said. "Youzhou Native Wind Yin" describes: "The moon palace talisman is painted as a jade rabbit on the kiln platform; the moon palace cake is made into a silver toad and a purple mansion shadow. A pair of toads and rabbits fill the world, regretting that Chang'e stole the medicine in the year; they ran into Guanghan and could not return. In the Qing Dynasty, eating mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival has become a common custom, and the production skills are getting higher and higher. Yuan Mei, a native of the Qing Dynasty, introduced in "Suiyuan Food List": "Puff-skin mooncakes are stuffed with pine nuts, walnut kernels, melon seeds, rock sugar, and lard. They taste sweet, fragrant, pine, and greasy, which is very unusual." Beijing's mooncakes The one made by Qianmen Zhimizhai is the first. Throughout the country, five flavor series have been formed, namely Beijing, Tianjin, Jiangsu, Guangzhou and Chaozhou. Many local folk customs have also emerged around worshiping and appreciating the moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival, such as the "Bu Zhuangyuan" in Jiangnan: cutting the moon cakes into large, medium and small pieces. The blocks are stacked together, and the largest one is placed at the bottom, which is the "number one"; the medium one is placed in the middle, and it is the "second place"; and the smallest one is on the top, which is the "third flower". Then the whole family throws dice, and whoever has the most numbers will be the number one winner and eat a big piece; the number two and the third overall pick will be the number one in order, and they have fun playing the game.
Playing with lanterns and dancing with fire dragons
There are many games and activities during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the first of which is playing with lanterns. The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the three major lantern festivals in my country, and people play with lanterns during the festival. Of course, there is no large-scale lantern festival like the Lantern Festival during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Playing with lanterns is mainly done among families and children.
As early as the Southern Song Dynasty, "Old Martial Arts" recorded the Mid-Autumn Festival customs of "putting a "little red" lantern into the river to float and play." People who play with lanterns during the Mid-Autumn Festival are mostly concentrated in the south. For example, at the Foshan Autumn Color Fair mentioned above, there are various kinds of lanterns: sesame lanterns, eggshell lanterns, wood shaving lanterns, straw lanterns, fish scale lanterns, chaff lanterns, melon seed lanterns, bird and animal flower tree lanterns, etc. People admire.
In Guangzhou, Hong Kong and other places, Mid-Autumn Festival activities are carried out on the Mid-Autumn Festival night, and the trees are also erected, which means that the lights are put up high. With the help of their parents, children tie up rabbit lanterns, carambola lanterns or square lanterns with bamboo paper, hang them horizontally on short poles, and then erect them on high poles. When they are skilled, the colorful lights shine, adding to the Mid-Autumn Festival. A scene. Children often compete with each other to see who can erect taller, more lanterns and the most exquisite lights. There are also sky lanterns, that is, Kongming lanterns, which are made into large-shaped lanterns with paper. Candles are burned under the lanterns, and the heat rises, causing the lanterns to fly in the air, attracting people to laugh and chase them. In addition, there are various lanterns carried by children to enjoy under the moonlight.
In Nanning, Guangxi, in addition to making various lanterns tied with paper and bamboo for children to play with, there are also very simple sleeve lanterns, pumpkin lanterns, and orange lanterns. The so-called grapefruit lamp is made by hollowing out the grapefruit to create a simple pattern, putting it on a string and lighting a candle inside. The light is elegant. Pumpkin lanterns and orange lanterns are also made by removing the flesh. Although simple, it is easy to make and very popular. Some children even float the oil lamps into the pond and river as a game.
Guangxi has a simple household autumn lantern, which is made of six circles of bamboo strips tied into a lantern, with white gauze paper on the outside and candles inserted inside. Hang it next to the moon festival table to worship the moon, and it can also be played by children.
Nowadays, many areas in Guangxi and Guangdong arrange lantern festivals on the Mid-Autumn Festival night. Large modern lanterns illuminated by electric lights are made, and there are also various new lanterns made of plastic for children to play with. However, there are few A simple beauty of old-time lanterns.
In addition, the game of burning tile lanterns (or burning flower towers, burning tile towers, burning fan towers) is also widely spread in the south, and is spread in Jiangxi, Guangdong, Guangxi and other places. For example, Volume 5 of "China National Customs" records: Jiangxi "On the night of Mid-Autumn Festival, ordinary children pick up tiles in the wild and pile them into a round tower shape with many holes. At dusk, they burn them in a tower of firewood under the bright moon. After the tiles are red-hot , and then pour kerosene on the fire to add fuel to the fire, and suddenly the surrounding areas are as red as daylight. Until late at night, no one is watching, and then the fire is poured. This is called burning a tile lamp. The tile-burning pagoda in Chaozhou, Guangdong is also a hollow pagoda built with bricks and tiles, filled with branches and set on fire. At the same time, smoke piles are also burned, which is to pile firewood into piles and burn them after the moon worship. The burning of Fan Pagoda in the Guangxi border area is similar to this activity, but folklore is to commemorate the heroic battle of Liu Yongfu, a famous anti-French general in the Qing Dynasty, who burned the Fan ghosts (French invaders) who escaped into the tower. It is quite popular. Patriotic thoughts. There is also a "tazai burning" activity in Jinjiang, Fujian.
Fire dragon dance is the most traditional custom of Hong Kong Mid-Autumn Festival. Starting from the 14th night of the eighth lunar month every year, a grand fire dragon dance event is held in the Tai Hang area of ??Causeway Bay for three consecutive nights. This fire dragon is more than 70 meters long, with a 32-section dragon body made of pearl grass and filled with longevity incense. On the night of the grand event, the streets and alleys of this district were filled with undulating fire dragons dancing joyfully under the lights and dragon drum music, making it very lively.
There is also a legend about the origin of the Hong Kong Mid-Autumn Festival Fire Dragon Dance: A long time ago, after a typhoon hit Tai Hang District, a python appeared and did evil everywhere. The villagers went out to hunt it down and finally killed it. . Unexpectedly, the python disappeared the next day. A few days later, a plague broke out in Dakeng. At this time, the elders in the village suddenly received a dream from the Bodhisattva, saying that as long as they danced the fire dragon during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the plague could be driven away. As luck would have it, this move actually worked. Since then, the fire dragon dance has been passed down to this day.
No matter how much superstition there is in this legend, China is the homeland of dragons. The fire dragon dance has a history of more than 100 years during the Mid-Autumn Festival in Tai Hang, Hong Kong. This is worth cherishing. Nowadays, the fire dragon dance activity in Tai Hang District is quite large-scale. In addition to the head coach, coach, chief conductor and conductor, the safety team and so on. More than 30,000 people take turns dancing the dragon.
Mid-Autumn Festival customs in various places
Court and pray for children
The Mid-Autumn Festival is full of poetry because of the wonderful moonlight. Under the moon, young men and women It is the best time to sing and find a partner, so it is also a festival to pursue love. Young men and women sing, dance and play under the moonlight, and they can become spouses when they meet the person they like. In modern times, this kind of ancient custom still exists and is full of interest.
Throwing handkerchiefs to attract relatives
In some areas of Fujian Province, there is a custom of throwing handkerchiefs to attract relatives on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival. That night, a colorful platform was set up in the square, arranged like a moon palace, with jade rabbits, osmanthus trees, etc. Some unmarried girls dressed up as Chang'e. After the celebration singing and dancing, the girls threw some handkerchiefs embroidered with different colors to the audience. If an audience member receives a handkerchief of the same color as the one in Chang'e's hand, he or she can go on stage to claim the prize. Some unmarried young men can give a ring to "Chang'e" if they are liked by "Chang'e" when returning the handkerchief. From then on, the two parties can make friends and communicate with each other, and the lovers will get married.
Begging for the moon, shining on the moon, and climbing on the moon
In the old days, some women in Dongguan believed that "Yue Lao is a matchmaker." If there are adult men and women in the family who accidentally fall in love with each other, it is convenient for them to marry each other at the third watch of the Mid-Autumn Festival night. Burning incense and candles under the moon, begging Yuelao to help him get married. It is said that on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, soaking in the moonlight can make women pregnant. In some areas, on the moonlit night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, some women who have been married for a long time and are infertile will go out of their homes to bathe in the moonlight, hoping to have a baby soon, which is called "shining the moon".
Stealing vegetables to beg a man
In Taiwan, there is a custom of unmarried women "stealing vegetables to beg a man" on Mid-Autumn Festival night. A beautifully dressed woman walks under the moonlight and secretly picks green onions and vegetables from other people's vegetable gardens. Once she picks them secretly, it indicates that she will meet the right husband. Therefore, there is a proverb in Taiwan: "Steal onions, marry a good husband; steal vegetables, marry a good son-in-law."
Stealing moon vegetables by the Dong people
On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival in Dong Township, Hunan, an interesting custom of "stealing moon vegetables" is popular.
According to legend, in ancient times, on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the fairies in the Moon Palace would descend to the lower world and spread nectar all over the world. The fairy's nectar is selfless, so people can enjoy the fruits and vegetables sprinkled with nectar together that night. The Dong family named this custom "stealing moon vegetables".
On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Dong girls hold flower umbrellas and choose the gardens of their beloved children to pick vegetables without being regarded as "stealing". They even shouted loudly and deliberately: "Hey! I've ripped off your vegetables. Come to my house to eat oil tea!" It turned out that they were using the Fairy of the Moon Palace to pass on the red thread. If they can pick a melon with parallel stems, it means they will have a happy love. Therefore, beans growing in pairs became their picking targets.
The sisters-in-law also went to other gardens to "steal moon vegetables" that night. However, they hoped to pick the fattest melon or a handful of fresh and green edamame, because this symbolizes the child's fatness and hairiness. health (the homophone of edamame refers to children). Young men also have the custom of "stealing moon vegetables" because they also hope that the Moon Palace Fairy will give them happiness. However, they could only cook and eat it in the wild and could not take it home. "Stealing moon vegetables" adds infinite joy and magic to the Mid-Autumn Festival night in Dong Village.
Moon dancing of the Miao people
Every Mid-Autumn Festival night, the bright moonlight shines all over the Miao village. After the Miao men and women reunite with their families, they go to the clearings of the mountains and forests to sing and dance. Hold a "moon jump" event.
In the ancient legend of the Miao people, the moon is a loyal, honest, hard-working and brave young man. There was a young and beautiful girl named Shui Qing. She rejected ninety-nine young men from ninety-nine prefectures who proposed to her and fell deeply in love with the moon. In the end, she also experienced all kinds of hardships caused by the sun, and finally combined happily with the moon.
To commemorate their happy love, the Miao elders will bathe in the light of the moon and dance Miao songs and dances on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival for generations, and call this custom "moon dancing". . In the "moon dance", young men and women look for each other's sweethearts and express their love for each other, saying that they want to be as clear as the water and the moon, with a pure and bright heart, and a happy marriage forever.
On the night of Mid-Autumn Festival, the custom of begging for a child is still popular in many places. This is the embodiment of ancient fertility worship. This is because the moon belongs to the yin and female gods, and at the same time there are activities of pursuing love, so the custom of seeking children is spread in the Mid-Autumn Festival customs. The customs of seeking children vary from place to place.
Stealing melons to pray for children
In Hengyang, Hunan, "On the evening of the Mid-Autumn Festival, there is a thing about giving melons." If Xi Feng Lu Yuan's family has married a woman who has been infertile for several years, relatives and friends will send melons to them. A few days ago, a winter melon will be stolen from the vegetable garden. The owner of the garden must not know it, and the face will be painted with colors and clothes will be wrapped around it. If human form. Those who are blessed with longevity are held in their arms, "ring gold, fire cannons, and send them to their homes." The elders place winter melons on the bed to cover them, and recite the sun in the door. If you sow melons, you will get melons, and if you sow beans, you will get beans. The person who receives the melon will prepare a grand feast to entertain him, if something happens again. After the woman gets the melon, she cuts it open and eats it. According to popular legend, "In Hengyang, for every married family without children in the village, as long as they are popular, someone in the village will give them a child."
In other areas of Hunan, there is also the custom of giving melons to children, similar to Hengyang. On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, when the owner is not at home admiring the moon, a good neighbor will secretly give children to him. The person giving away the child must already have children. They first selected Guayuan from the most evil family in the village, stole a big winter melon from the garden, drew a doll's face on the melon, and then inserted a five-inch long bamboo tube into the belly of the winter melon and followed the bamboo tube. Pour water into it until it is full. The giver hid the winter melon in the owner's bed, and when the owner returned to the room to sleep, he would pull the quilt with his hands. When the winter melon doll moved, water would flow out along the bamboo tube, just like a child who wets the bed. People who throw melons scold them when they get up early in the morning. It is said that the more fierce the scolding, the stronger the baby will be in the future. If a child is really born in the second year, the child will be asked to worship the person who gave the child as "godfather" or "godmother".
There is also a custom in Guizhou of stealing melons and giving away children. When stealing melons at night, they deliberately let the person who was stolen know about it in order to provoke angry curses. The more powerful the curses, the better. After the melon is stolen, it must be dressed in clothes and eyebrows, pretending to be the shape of a child, beating gongs and drums, and carrying it on a bamboo pole to a childless family. The person who accepts the melon must treat the person who gave it to a meal. Moon cakes, then sleep with the melon all night, and cook the melon and eat it the next morning, thinking that you can get pregnant from now on.
In the area of ??Shexian County, Anhui Province, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, adults let children enjoy other people's Japanese melons or Japanese yams with their mothers and children, and then put them dripping with mud and water into the quilts of newlyweds, making the mattress extremely wet. dirty. Use this method to express giving away a child. There is a poem that says: "Sending a son to a child during the Mid-Autumn Festival is a beautiful talk. It is always suitable for a man to send melons and taro seeds. Innocent people cherish the red damask quilt the most. It is embarrassing to drag water and mud."
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