The short story of Chang'e Runs to the Moon (Myths and Legends in Chinese Traditional Festivals)

Chang'e Runs to the Moon is one of the myths and legends in Chinese traditional festivals. Legend has it that a long, long time ago, there were ten suns in the sky, and the heat was so unbearable that people were living in deep water. Later, the gods shot down nine suns, leaving only one sun in the sky to shine on earth. This god was called Hou Yi, and he was granted immortality and the medicine of immortality from immortal herbs because of his merits.

Hou Yi's wife, Chang E, was a beautiful and kind woman. One day, Houyi was not at home, Chang'e secretly opened Houyi's medicine storage box, wanting to see the immortal herbs inside. However, she accidentally ate a medicine for immortality and instantly soared to the Moon Palace.

In the Moon Palace, Chang'e met the Jade Rabbit, the Moon God, and the Moon Palace Nymphs. She was y attracted by their beauty and kindness and decided to stay in the Moon Palace. She spent every day with the Moon God Jade Rabbit and the Moon Palace Fairy and lived a very happy life.

But Chang'e always missed the world on earth. In order for her to be able to return to the earth, the moon god Jade Rabbit told her that she would only be able to return to the earth if people put some food and candles under the moon every year at the Mid-Autumn Festival. So, every year at the Mid-Autumn Festival, people would put candles under the moon, bake mooncakes, and enjoy the moon to worship Chang'e in the hope that she could return to earth.

Traditional Customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most important traditional Chinese festivals and a festival of reunion. On this day, people will reunite with their families and eat mooncakes, enjoy the moon and set off fireworks together. The following are the traditional customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival:

Moon Appreciation

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a good time to enjoy the moon. People will enjoy the beauty and mystery of the moon at night on this day. In some places, there will also be moon watching competitions to see who can see the most beautiful moon.

Eating Mooncakes

The traditional food of Mid-Autumn Festival is mooncakes. Mooncakes are round pastries with various fillings inside, such as lotus seed paste, bean paste and five kernels. People will eat mooncakes together on this day to symbolize reunion and goodness.

Fireworks

Mid-Autumn Festival is also a good time for fireworks. People will set off fireworks at night to enjoy the beauty and splendor of fireworks. Some places will also hold fireworks competitions to see who can set off the most beautiful fireworks.