When is the Mid-Autumn Festival in the lunar calendar?

The Mid-Autumn Festival is on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month.

The Mid-Autumn Festival evolved from the ancient Mid-Autumn Festival to worship the moon. The original "Moon Worship Festival" was the autumnal equinox in the twenty-four solar terms. However, due to the integration of calendars in historical development, the lunar calendar was used, and it was later transferred to the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month. Influenced by China culture, Mid-Autumn Festival is also a traditional festival for overseas Chinese in some countries in East and Southeast Asia, especially local Chinese.

According to China's calendar, August in the lunar calendar is the middle of autumn and the second month of autumn, which is called the Mid-Autumn Festival, while August 15th falls on the Mid-Autumn Festival, so it is called the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Mid-Autumn Festival originated from the traditional "Autumn Equinox Sacrificing the Moon", and as one of the important ceremonies of folk festivals, it gradually evolved into activities such as appreciating and praising the moon.

Traditional activities of Mid-Autumn Festival:

1, sacrifice to the moon

Sacrificing the moon is a very old custom in China. In ancient times, there was a custom of "autumn and dusk". The evening moon is the God of Yue Bai. Since ancient times, in some places in Guangdong, people have the custom of worshipping the moon god (mother moon and moonlight) on the night of Mid-Autumn Festival. In Yue Bai, a big incense table was set up, and the sacrifices included moon cakes, watermelons, apples, red dates, plums and grapes.

Step 2 light the lamp

On the night of Mid-Autumn Festival, there is the custom of burning lanterns to help the moon. Nowadays, there is still the custom of piling tiles and burning lamps on towers in Huguang area. Jiangnan has the custom of making lantern boats. The custom of burning lanterns in modern Mid-Autumn Festival is more prosperous.

Step 3 enjoy the moon

The custom of enjoying the moon comes from offering sacrifices to the moon, and serious sacrifices have become relaxed pleasures. It is said that the moon is closest to the earth that night, and it is the largest, roundest and brightest, so there has been a custom of drinking and enjoying the moon since ancient times. The customs of ancient north and south are different, and the customs of different places are different. The written record of Mid-Autumn Festival activities appeared in Wei and Jin Dynasties, but it did not become a habit. In the Tang Dynasty, it was quite popular to enjoy and play with the moon in the Mid-Autumn Festival.