The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, is a harvest festival celebrated in Chinese culture. It is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar with a full moon at night, corresponding to mid-September to early October of the Gregorian calendar. The festival symbolizes the family reunion, and on this day, all families will appreciate the Moon in the evening because it is the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar, when the moon is at its fullest. The festival has a history of over 3,000 years and is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture, with its popularity on par with that of Chinese New Year. The festival is celebrated in many traditional ways, including:
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Moon worship: The Chinese believe that the moon is at its brightest and fullest size, coinciding with harvest time in the middle of autumn. Moon worship is an essential part of the festival, and people will appreciate the beauty of the moon as well.
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Family reunion: The roundness of the moon represents the reunion of the family in Chinese minds. Therefore, it is really important to go back home on that day and celebrate there together with those closest to you.
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Eating mooncakes: Mooncakes are a traditional food eaten during the festival. They are round, symbolizing the full moon, and are often filled with sweet bean paste or lotus seed paste.
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Lighting lanterns: People light lanterns to celebrate the festival, and the lanterns come in various shapes and sizes.
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Appreciating the moon: On this day, the Chinese believe that the moon is at its brightest and fullest size, coinciding with harvest time in the middle of autumn. Therefore, people will appreciate the beauty of the moon as well.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated differently in different regions, and there are many customs and traditions associated with the festival.
