Why is the annual autumnal equinox designated as "China Farmers Harvest Festival"?

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Han Changfu said that the Harvest Festival is closely related to the farming tradition. From the perspective of solar terms, spring planting and autumn harvest, Chunhua Qiushi, and the autumn equinox season are fruitful, which can best reflect the bumper harvest.

Geographically, China has a vast territory and rich products, and the harvest season varies from place to place, but most places are autumn, and the autumn harvest crops are big. From the perspective of folklore, more than a dozen ethnic minorities in China have traditional festivals to celebrate the harvest, mostly in the second half of the year. At the national level, the establishment of festivals in which all ethnic groups participate and celebrate the harvest together is conducive to promoting the harmony, unity and development of the Chinese nation.

Han Changfu said: First, it is conducive to further highlighting the important position of the work on agriculture, rural areas and farmers, arousing the attention and attention of the whole society on agriculture, rural areas and farmers, creating a strong atmosphere of attaching importance to and strengthening agriculture, rallying the powerful forces of loving and supporting agriculture, promoting the implementation of the rural revitalization strategy and accelerating the development of agriculture and rural areas. Second, it is conducive to improving the sense of honor, happiness and acquisition of hundreds of millions of farmers, conforming to the expectations of hundreds of millions of farmers and meeting the needs for a better life. Third, it is conducive to inheriting and carrying forward Chinese farming civilization and excellent cultural traditions, allowing people to release their emotions, inherit culture, find belonging, gather people's emotional sustenance for that mountain, that water and that field, and enjoy the spiritual edification of farming culture. Source: Yang Guang