Mid-Autumn Festival

The English origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival is as follows:

The Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节), also known as the Moon Festival, is an important traditional Chinese festival usually celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. The festival is celebrated not only in China, but also in other East Asian countries such as Vietnam, South Korea and Japan, and attracts thousands of visitors and tourists every year.

The origins of the Mid-Autumn Festival can be traced back thousands of years to ancient China. There are many different legends about the origin of this festival, the most famous of which is the legend of Chang'e running to the moon. According to the legend, there were ten suns in ancient times, making the earth dry and crops wither. Hou Yi, a valiant archer, ascended to the Yaoyi Pond of the Queen Mother of the West and obtained the medicine for immortality.

However, he did not want to become ageless and immortal, but wanted to protect his people. So, he gave the medicine to his wife, Chang'e, for safekeeping. Chang'e knew the power of the medicine and could not bear to let it fall into the wrong hands, so she swallowed it and flew to the moon. Every Mid-Autumn Festival, people hold a moon worship ceremony in front of the Moon Palace to express their respect and nostalgia for Chang'e.

Another legend related to the Mid-Autumn Festival is about Hou Yi shooting the sun. According to legend, in ancient times, ten suns appeared in the sky at the same time, making the earth dry and people's lives miserable. Hou Yi, a valiant archer, decided to help the people. He shot down nine suns in one ****, which restored peace to the sky.

To prevent the sun from getting out of control again, the Queen Mother rewarded him with an elixir called the Pill of Immortality. Hou Yi did not rush to consume the pill, but gave it to his wife Chang'e for safekeeping. However, Hou Yi's apprentice, Meng Liang Bu Xie, attempts to steal the precious pill. Meng Liang Bu Xie deceived Chang E and convinced her to swallow the pill. Chang'e realized that she should not live on earth and flew to the moon. Every year at the Mid-Autumn Festival, people place offerings in front of her as a way to honor her loyalty and wisdom.

Among the traditional activities celebrated at the Mid-Autumn Festival, enjoying the moon is one of the most important. On a clear night, families gather to enjoy the bright full moon. People also eat mooncakes, which are specially made snacks usually containing fillings such as bean paste, lotus seed paste and egg yolk, representing reunion and happiness. In addition, the Mid-Autumn Festival features various traditional cultural activities such as lantern riddles, drumming and dragon dances, and lion dances, making the festival even more lively and interesting.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is not only a festival for family reunion, but also a time to pass on Chinese culture. On this day, people pass on ancient traditions and remember historical legends, while also showing the deep heritage of Chinese culture. This festival is not only a traditional cultural heritage of the Chinese people, but also a popular cultural festival in the world, attracting tourists from all over the world to come and experience the charm of traditional Chinese culture.