How Does China Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival?

How Does China?Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival?

The Mid-Autumn Festival?is observed by millions of people across Asia on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar. This means the festival date changes every year in the Gregorian calendar, but it is always around the time of the?harvest moon. This year, the Mid-Autumn Festival falls on Sept. 10.

Certain traditional activities, like moon gazing and displaying lanterns, are popular across several Asian countries—as is the symbol of a rabbit on the moon. But there are plenty of local traditions too.

The legend of?Chang’e?and her ascent to the moon has long been associated with the Mid-Autumn festivities in China.

The mythology says that in ancient times the Earth had 10 suns, which scorched the world. A celebrated archer named Hou Yi drew his bow and shot nine of the suns down, saving humanity. For his heroic act, the gods gave him the pill of immortality, which he handed to his wife Chang’e for safekeeping.?

However, one of his followers, Peng Meng, tried to steal the pill while Hou Yi was out hunting—so Chang’e swallowed it to prevent it from falling into Peng Meng’s hands. She became immortal and floated up to the moon, where she has lived since. Apart from Chang’e, the moon also has another resident: the Jade Rabbit.

In Chinese?tradition, the full moon symbolizes family reunion, thus Mid-Autumn is a festival to be celebrated at home. People admire the moon and eat?moon cakes, which come stuffed with a variety of fillings, from the traditional salted egg yolk and lotus paste to contemporary versions with ice-cream, fruit, and custard fillings.

Lanterns?play an important role in the festivities. These days, the candle-lit paper lanterns of yore are rarely seen. Most children carry around the battery-powered variety. Single-use glow sticks are also common—leading to?appeals?from environmentalists for curbs on their use.

Some regions have specific Moon Festival customs. In eastern China’s?Zhejiang?province, the Qiantang River’s tidal bore attracts many visitors. In?Hunan?province, women from the Dong ethnic group customarily steal vegetables—because according to legend the moon goddess will shower “sweet dew” on them and whoever consumes them will be healthy and happy.