The Mid-Autumn Festival traditionally falls on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar. It celebrates the moon at it’s supposed the roundest and fullest state. The full moon is considered a symbol of reunion. The common customs of Mid-Autumn Festival include family members eating dinner together, sharing mooncakes, admiring the moon, and carrying lanterns.  It is the second most important festival in China after Chinese New Year.

Mid-Autumn Festival has a history of over 3,000 years, dating back to moon worship in the Shang Dynasty (1600–1046 BC). It’s such an important festival that many poems were written about it, and the stories and legends about the festival are widespread.
In the Tang Dynasty, it was popular to appreciate the moon. Many poets liked to create poems related to the moon when appreciating it. There is a legend that Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty visited the Moon Palace in his dream and heard a wonderful song.

The widely-accepted origin of the festival is the tale of Chang’e, a goddess who lives on the moon.

In this day, the whole family get together to appreciate the moon while eating and sharing the moon cakes. These yummy treats symbolize reunion and happiness. And in some regions, people put paper lanterns on display or release them into the evening sky.

Right now, the Mid-Autumn Festival is listed as an official holiday in China. Many people use this time to visit family and friends.

(By Yang Jiming/Qi Qian)