Mid-Autumn Festival: The Festival of the Moon

In China there are several major festivals throughout the year. Like holidays popular in Western countries such as Christmas*, China has its own important dates throughout the year. One of the most important festivals is called the Mid-Autumn festival; a festival always occurring on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese Lunar Calendar.

The Mid-Autumn festival, or moon festival, is a time to greet the coming winter and give thanks for the moon. In celebration of this, small round cakes are made and filled with minced meats, fruits, bean paste, or almonds. Nowadays moon cakes are even made of ice cream! Symbols of the festival are traditionally placed on the golden crust of each cake. Originally, these cakes were used to symbolize the different full moons of the year and were given to relatives as gifts of good will. The festival originated in the B.Cs during the Xia and Shang dynasties, and although over time the traditions have changed, moon cakes are still as popular as gazing up at the silver moon in thanks. The moon cake is still so important in Chinese culture and history that they are made and eaten nearly two months before the celebration of the Mid-Autumn festival. The history or legend of the moon cake can be read in nearly any book on Chinese culture.

Celebrations of this holiday tend to vary from family to family. Yet generally, families enjoy a dinner together and then attend parties or performances in the park. Others simply sit outside their residences, talk with family members, and enjoy the moon above. Cities provide a number of festivities as well; from a fireworks show to crown the full moon to the lighting of large paper lanterns to accent it, Chinese citizens enjoy a variety of memorials to the beloved moon.

In modern day China workers are given a nearly a week off work in which to enjoy the holiday. This time is usually spent with family and friends, culminating in the family dinner on Mid-Autumn’s night. Thus, unlike other major travel holidays, the people of China can be found mainly in their hometowns during Mid-Autumn instead of hot-spots like Beijing, Hainan, or Dalian.

*Albeit Christmas is a religious holiday its popularity in China is low as there are few followers of Christianity. It is a known holiday, but not a particularly celebrated one.