What are the customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival?

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as "Moon Festival", "Mid-Autumn Festival", "August Festival", etc., is one of the most important traditional Chinese festivals, which is usually celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar. On this day, people engage in a variety of customary activities to express their aspirations for and pursuit of a better life. Some of these customs have their origin in the ancient tradition of moon worship, while others are later developments, but they are all important parts of Chinese culture and have a deep historical and cultural heritage.

I. Explanation of the origin of the customs:

The customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival originated from the moon sacrifice in ancient times. According to legend, in ancient times, people would hold moon rituals on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month in order to honor the moon god and their ancestors. These ceremonies usually included offerings, dances, songs and other activities to express respect and gratitude to the moon god and ancestors. Over time, these moon rituals evolved into today's Mid-Autumn Festival customs.

Also, the Mid-Autumn Festival is an important festival that marks the beginning of the fall season. In traditional Chinese culture, autumn is regarded as a season of harvest, in which people engage in a variety of celebrations to express their aspirations and pursuit of a good harvest and a better life. As a result, the Mid-Autumn Festival has also become a festival to celebrate harvest and reunion.

II. Examples of Mid-Autumn Festival Customs:

1. Moon Viewing

Moon viewing is one of the most important customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival. On this day, people will enjoy the moon outdoors or indoors to see the beautiful moon. Some people will set up tables, chairs and candlesticks on the patio or balcony while enjoying the moon, sipping tea and eating mooncakes to add to the romantic and festive atmosphere.

2. Eating Mooncakes

Eating mooncakes is one of the traditional customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Mooncake is a traditional Chinese pastry usually made of glutinous rice flour, bean paste, egg yolk and other ingredients in a round shape. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, people eat mooncakes to celebrate this festival of reunion. Eating mooncakes also symbolizes family reunion and harmony.

3. Lighting lanterns

Lighting lanterns is also one of the traditional customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, people will light lanterns outdoors or indoors to add to the festive atmosphere. There are many kinds of lanterns, some are paper, some are colorful, some are gourd lanterns and so on.

4. Playing with lanterns

Playing with lanterns is one of the traditional customs during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Lanterns are a kind of traditional folk art, usually made of bamboo, colored paper, light bulbs and other materials, with different shapes. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, people will play with lanterns either outdoors or indoors to add to the festive atmosphere and celebrate this festival of reunion.

5. Moon Sacrifice

Moon sacrifice is one of the traditions of Mid-Autumn Festival customs. In ancient times, people would perform moon rituals during the Mid-Autumn Festival in order to worship the moon god and ancestors. Nowadays, moon sacrifice is still an important customary activity. During the moon festival ceremony, people will offer incense, flowers, fruits and wine to express their respect and gratitude to the moon god and ancestors.

6. Appreciation of Osmanthus

Osmanthus flowers are in full bloom during the Mid-Autumn Festival, and therefore the appreciation of osmanthus flowers has also become a traditional customary activity. Osmanthus is a richly scented flower, and its aroma can make people feel pleasant and comfortable. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, people will appreciate osmanthus flowers to add to the festive atmosphere and enjoy the good feelings brought by osmanthus flowers

All in all, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a festival full of traditional culture and history, which represents people's yearning and pursuit of reunion and a better life. In this festival, people will carry out a variety of customary activities, which are colorful and profound, and have become an important part of Chinese culture.

3. Mid-Autumn Festival Cuisine:

Mid-Autumn Festival cuisine is represented by mooncakes, as well as other traditional food, the following are some common Mid-Autumn Festival food:

1. Mooncake: The most representative food of Mid-Autumn Festival is mooncake, which is a kind of round pastry usually made of glutinous rice flour, bean paste, egg yolks and other ingredients, with a sweet and savory flavor, and it is the indispensable food of Mid-Autumn Festival.

2. Pomelo: Pomelo is one of the common fruits during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Its pulp is fragrant and juicy, and rich in vitamin C, which helps to strengthen the immune system. In addition, pomelo peel can be used to make candied fruit and other foods.

3. Lotus seed paste cake: Lotus seed paste cake is a kind of pastry made of lotus seed paste as the main ingredient, which is delicate, sweet but not greasy, and is a common dessert during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

4. Osmanthus Cake: Osmanthus Cake is a kind of pastry made of glutinous rice flour, osmanthus and sugar as the main ingredients, with sweet taste, it is one of the traditional delicacies during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

5. Taro Crisp: Taro Crisp is a kind of pastry made of taro as the main ingredient, which is soft, sweet but not greasy, and is one of the traditional delicacies during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

In addition to the traditional food mentioned above, there are also some specialties in different regions, such as Chaoshan beef jerky in Guangdong, eight treasures rice in Fujian, chestnut cake in Hunan, and so on. In short, the Mid-Autumn Festival is rich and diverse, and different regions and families will have different food choices and production methods.