Mid-autumn festival tips

First, the origin of Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival originated in ancient times, popularized in the Han Dynasty, shaped in the early Tang Dynasty and prevailed after the Song Dynasty. Mid-Autumn Festival is a synthesis of autumn seasonal customs, most of which have ancient origins. The Mid-Autumn Festival is a colorful and precious cultural heritage. The full moon is a symbol of people's reunion, a sustenance for missing their hometown and relatives, and hopes for a bumper harvest and happiness.

Second, another name for Mid-Autumn Festival.

There are many nicknames for Mid-Autumn Festival: In ancient times, there was an activity of reflecting the moon (Yue Bai) on the autumnal equinox, so it was called "Moon Festival" or "Moon Festival". Because this festival falls on August 15, it is called "August Festival" and "August and a half". Because the main activities of the Mid-Autumn Festival are all around the "moon", it is also commonly known as the "Moon Festival". The full moon in Mid-Autumn Festival symbolizes reunion, so it is also called "Reunion Festival".

Mid-Autumn Festival is also called "Reunion Festival" and "Daughter's Day" because the moon is round, families get together and married daughters go home for reunion. In Guangfu area, Mid-Autumn Festival is commonly known as "Moonlight Birthday". During the Mid-Autumn Festival, all kinds of melons and fruits are mature and listed, which is called the "Fruit Festival". Dong people call it "Pumpkin Festival" and Mulao people call it "Afterlife Festival".

Third, the traditional customs of Mid-Autumn Festival.

1, eat moon cakes

Eating moon cakes is the main custom of Mid-Autumn Festival. According to the existing records, the custom of eating moon cakes originated in the Tang Dynasty. Tang Xizong ate moon cakes in the Mid-Autumn Festival and thought it was delicious. He ordered the chef to wrap moon cakes in HongLing and give them to the new scholars. In the Song Dynasty, moon cakes were called "lotus leaf", "golden flower" and "hibiscus", and their production methods were more exquisite. The poet Su Dongpo praised in a poem: "Small cakes are like chewing the moon, and there is fullness in the crisp." Its subtlety can be imagined.

2. Sacrifice the moon

In ancient times, there was a custom of "autumn and dusk", that is, worshipping the moon god. A big incense table was set up under the moon, the moon statue was placed towards the moon, red candles were burned high, and sacrifices such as moon cakes, watermelons, apples, red dates, plums and grapes were placed. The whole family took turns in Yue Bai, and then the housewife cut the reunion moon cakes into pieces as many as the whole family.

Step 3 enjoy the moon

In addition to offering sacrifices to the moon, the Mid-Autumn Festival has had the custom of enjoying the moon since ancient times. During the Zhou Dynasty, every Mid-Autumn Festival night, people held a festival to welcome the cold, set up a big incense table, put on wine and food, and a group of people got together to drink and enjoy the moon.

Fourth, the legend of Mid-Autumn Festival.

1, the Goddess Chang'e flying to the moon

According to legend, after Houyi shot the sun, he got a pack of elixir from the Queen Mother and gave it to his wife Chang 'e for safekeeping. Unexpectedly, this scene was seen by the villain, who took advantage of Houyi to go hunting and forced Chang 'e to hand over the fairy medicine. Chang 'e swallowed the fairy medicine and hurried to the moon. When Hou Yi came back, he could only look up at the night sky, call his wife to the figure in the middle of the month, put on incense tables, fruits and sacrifices, and go to the Goddess Chang'e flying to the moon in the distance. In this way, the custom of Mid-Autumn Festival in Yue Bai has been passed down from generation to generation.

2. WU GANG cut Guangxi.

According to legend, the osmanthus trees in front of the Moon Guanghan Palace are flourishing, reaching more than 500 feet. WU GANG, a native of Xihe in Han Dynasty, once practiced Buddhism with immortals. When he made a mistake in heaven, the immortal demoted him to the Moon Palace to cut down osmanthus trees. Every time you chop, the chopping place is closed immediately. For thousands of years, this osmanthus tree will never be cut down.

3. Jade rabbit mashes medicine

One of the anecdotes of Taoism, Jade Rabbit Tricks Medicine, is found in Han Yuefu Dong Escape. Legend has it that there is a rabbit in the moon, as white as jade, so it is called "Jade Rabbit". This kind of white rabbit holds a jade pestle and kneels down to pound the medicine into toad pills. Taking these pills can make you live forever. Over time, Jade Rabbit became synonymous with the moon.