What are the origins and customs of Mid-Autumn Festival?

1. The Mid-Autumn Festival began in the early years of the Tang Dynasty and prevailed in the Song Dynasty. By the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it had become one of the traditional festivals in China, which was as famous as the Spring Festival. Influenced by China culture, Mid-Autumn Festival is also a traditional festival for overseas Chinese in some countries in East and Southeast Asia, especially local Chinese.

2. The customs of Mid-Autumn Festival include: stepping on the moon, offering sacrifices to the moon, appreciating the moon, begging for the moon to shine on it, watching the tide, eating moon cakes, burning incense, lighting lanterns, solve riddles on the lanterns, playing with rabbits, playing with lanterns, dancing dragons, listening to incense, stealing moon dishes, burning pagoda lights, throwing handkerchiefs to attract relatives, stealing melons to pray for blessings, drinking osmanthus wine, stealing vegetables, begging for lang and eating snails.