Mid-Autumn Festival

Chinese national intangible cultural heritage: Mid Autumn Festival

Applicant: Ministry of culture

Project No.: 453

Project No.: X - 5

Time of publication: 2006 (the first batch)

Category: folk customs

Region: Zhongzhi unit

Type: new item

Applicant: Ministry of culture

Protection unit: Ministry of culture and Tourism

Introduction to Mid Autumn Festival

Applicant: Ministry of culture

The 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar is the Mid Autumn Festival, also known as "lunar evening", "Autumn Festival", "Mid Autumn Festival", "August Festival", "August meeting", "moon chasing Festival", "moon playing Festival", "moon worship Festival", "daughter's Day" and "reunion festival". It is a traditional cultural festival popular among many ethnic groups in China. Because it is worth half of the three autumn, so it got the name. It is said that the moon is the biggest, roundest and brightest on this night. Since ancient times, people have the custom of enjoying the moon on the night of the Mid Autumn Festival. The daughter-in-law who returns to her mother's home must return to her husband's home every day to express the meaning of completeness and auspiciousness. In Hong Kong, after the Mid Autumn Festival, we still have to have another carnival on the 16th night, which is called "chasing the moon".

Mid Autumn Festival is an ancient custom of worshiping the moon. In the Zhou Dynasty, there were activities such as "welcome the cold on the night of the Mid Autumn Festival", "offer good fur on the night of the Mid Autumn Festival" and "worship the moon on the eve of the autumnal equinox"; in the Han Dynasty, there were activities to respect and support the elderly on the day of the Mid Autumn Festival or the beginning of the autumn festival; in the Jin Dynasty, there were activities to enjoy the moon during the Mid Autumn Festival; until the Tang Dynasty, the Mid Autumn Festival was combined with fairy tales such as Chang'e's flying to the moon, Wu Gang's cutting GUI, Yutu's pounding medicine, Yang Guifei's changing into the moon god In the Northern Song Dynasty, August 15 was designated as the Mid Autumn Festival, and such seasonal food as "cakes such as chewing the moon, with pastry and Yee" appeared. The activities related to the Mid Autumn Festival include: 1. Spreading the legends of the moon, Chang'e, jade rabbit, Wu Gang, etc.; 2. Holding a ceremony to sacrifice the moon; 3. Eating moon cakes; 4. Offering sacrifices to the earth's birthday; 5. Doing divination activities; 6. Sending melons to wish children; 7. Enjoying the moon, fighting crickets, raising crickets and other activities in the Mid Autumn Festival. The main production tools and works during the Mid Autumn Festival include: moon god horse, moon cake mold, moon cake food, rabbit master, cricket jar, cage, etc.

The biggest feature of the Mid Autumn Festival is to place the good wishes of man and nature in the sky. The Mid Autumn Festival is the season of agricultural harvest. Moon cakes and fruits are not only the media of sacrificing gods, but also the concrete symbol of people's happy mood to celebrate the harvest.

In the Mid Autumn Festival, people strengthen the family relationship while pursuing the beautiful scenery. Therefore, this traditional festival is of great value to the construction of a harmonious society.

The Mid Autumn Festival is a happy and lively Festival. Although its advocating content is weakening, entertainment, festival diet and other activities are still quite active.

Chinese PinYin : Zhong Qiu Jie