Ancient peoples held sacrifices to the Moon God around the Mid-Autumn Festival, which has been recorded in writing for more than 2, years. In the Tang Dynasty, more records were recorded, and later, the legend of eating moon cakes to kill Tartars was added, so the Mid-Autumn Festival became a festival with national consciousness. Since Ming and Qing Dynasties, it has become one of the three major festivals in a year.

There are the following stories about the origin of Mid-Autumn Festival:

(1) the Goddess Chang'e flying to the moon

It is said that more than 4, years ago, there was a king of a poor country, Hou Yi, who was brave and good at shooting, but he was violent by nature and did not sympathize with the sufferings of the people, making people miserable. Hou Yi wanted to live forever, and he found the medicine for immortality from Kunlun Mountain, and prepared to swallow it another day. This was learned by Chang E. In order to show sympathy for his people and avoid the long-term cruel rule of Hou Yi, he took this medicine first, and suddenly he was as light as a swallow, and he flew to the moon palace. Later Yi found out that he shot Chang E with an arrow, and Chang E entered the Guanghan Palace and became the moon god.

(II) Overthrowing the Yuan Dynasty

According to legend, at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, the people of the Central Plains were unwilling to be subjected to the brutal rule of the Yuan Dynasty, and patriots rose up in succession to resist the Yuan Dynasty. Zhu Hongwu's strategist Liu Bowen asked his subordinates to pretend to be Taoist priests and sell symbols in various counties, saying that there would be a disaster this year, and those who wanted to avoid the disaster could hang the Sun and Moon flags on August 15th, and the flags would be hidden in big moon cakes. On this day, people all over the country cut big moon cakes and hung up the flags hidden in them. The uprising was so powerful that the Yuan people were surprised. Zhu Hongwu succeeded in one blow and ended the rule of the Yuan dynasty. Later, this sun and moon flag was the "Ming" flag. Another similar legend is that there is a piece of paper hidden in the moon cake, which says "Kill the Tartars on the night of August 15th". When everyone saw this piece of paper when cutting the moon cake, they all rose up and killed the Tartars, and the Yuan Dynasty was overthrown.

The customs of Mid-Autumn Festival are as follows:

(1) Appreciating the Moon:

The Moon in Mid-Autumn Festival is particularly bright and full, which symbolizes reunion. In ancient times, many people wanted to see the Jade Rabbit in the Moon and WU GANG logging. Modern people appreciate the natural beauty of the moonlit night.

(2) Eating moon cakes:

The custom of eating moon cakes is recorded in writing and began in the Ming Dynasty. Legend has it that festive food is magical and endowed with patriotic significance.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated with "moon cakes", just like eating zongzi on the Dragon Boat Festival. Moon cakes celebrate reunion or commemorate the resistance to foreign rule.

(3) Reunion:

People eat moon cakes, enjoy the moon, reward the landowner and other customs, all praying for a complete and glorious life, a happy family reunion and a peaceful community, showing the ideal of a full moon.

Previous poems about the moon:

1. Chang 'e

The shadow of the mica screen candle is deep, and the long river gradually falls and the stars sink;

Chang 'e should regret stealing the elixir.

2. drinking Alone with the Moon Tang Li Bai

from a pot of wine among the flowers, I drank alone. There was no one with me;

till, raising my cup, I asked the bright moon, to bring me my shadow and make us three.

alas, the moon was unable to drink, and my shadow tagged me vacantly;,

but still for a while I had these friends, eat, drink and be merry.

I sang. The moon encouraged me, I danced. My shadow tumbled after;

having sex when awake, and being dispersed when drunk;

shall goodwill ever be secure?, I watch the long road of the River of Stars.