The Origin and Customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. In ancient times, people worshipped and admired the bright moon. With the passage of time, it has gradually become a festival for missing relatives and reuniting with families. The full moon symbolizes reunion and carries people’s wishes for happiness and peace.

 

There are many traditional customs during the festival, including eating mooncakes, solving lantern riddles and enjoying lantern shows.

Eating mooncakes is an essential tradition. With round shapes, mooncakes stand for harmony and reunion. Families share mooncakes together, conveying warm blessings and sincere affection.

 

On Mid-Autumn nights, colorful lanterns are hung everywhere, with interesting riddles written on them. Adults and children gather to solve riddles and have fun, filling the festival with joy and liveliness.

Enjoying lantern shows is the most distinctive custom of the Mid-Autumn Festival. As night falls, parks, streets and squares are decorated with various lanterns, such as jade rabbit lanterns, lotus lanterns and ancient-style palace lanterns. Bright lights shine everywhere, creating a gorgeous and dreamy scene. The lanterns are exquisitely shaped and brightly colored, integrating classic Mid-Autumn elements like the full moon, jade rabbits and lotus flowers. People walk in the beautiful sea of lights with their families and friends. Many cities also hold grand lantern fairs. The splendid light displays inherit traditional culture and add unique romance and excitement to the Mid-Autumn Festival.