The origin of China's traditional festival of the Mid-Autumn Festival?

Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional festival in China. In the early years of the Tang Dynasty, the Mid-Autumn Festival was established as a regular festival. By the Song Dynasty, the Mid-Autumn Festival had become very popular until the Ming and Qing Dynasties, when it became the second largest and most important festival in addition to the Spring Festival.

The Origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival originated from the ancient custom of autumn rituals and moon worship in China. It is an ancient "moon festival" which was held at the time of the fall equinox of the 24 solar terms. The Mid-Autumn Festival is the traditional "moon festival" of the autumnal equinox. As one of the important rituals of folk festivals, the Moon Festival gradually evolved into activities such as Moon Appreciation and Moon Celebration. During the Han Dynasty, the Mid-Autumn Festival was popularized.

Expanded Knowledge

According to historical records, the term "Mid-Autumn Festival" first appeared in the book of Zhou Li. By the time of the Wei and Jin dynasties, there was a record of "Oracle Shangshu Zhen Niu confuse, mid-autumn eve and around the micro-suits panning the river". In the Book of Rites, it is written, "The Son of Heaven will go towards the sun in the spring, and towards the moon in the fall. The sun in the morning, the moon in the evening." Here, "Xiyue" means to worship the moon.