Moon Cake

The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most important traditional holidays in China, usually celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. The origin and significance of the Mid-Autumn Festival are closely related to ancient worship of nature, moon worship, and the agricultural cycle, making it rich in cultural meaning.
Here’s why the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated:
1. Celebration of the Harvest
The Mid-Autumn Festival falls in the middle of autumn, a time when crops are ripe for harvesting. In ancient times, farmers would celebrate the harvest and give thanks to nature for its blessings.
2. Moon Worship and Family Reunion
The full moon is a symbol of the Mid-Autumn Festival. In Chinese culture, the moon has long been associated with unity and harmony. The 15th day of the 8th lunar month is believed to be the time when the moon is at its fullest and brightest. This day was chosen for families to gather and enjoy the beauty of the full moon, sharing mooncakes and expressing feelings of togetherness and longing for loved ones.
3. Prayers and Gratitude
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, people traditionally pray to the moon, asking for good fortune, health, and happiness.
4. Mooncake Tradition
Mooncakes are the most iconic food associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival. The round shape of the mooncake symbolizes reunion and completeness. Sharing mooncakes with family and friends is a way of sharing happiness and blessings.
5. Importance of Family Reunion
The Mid-Autumn Festival is also known as the Reunion Festival. It offers a chance for people to return home and gather with their families, especially those who live far away. Similar to the Chinese New Year, the Mid-Autumn Festival emphasizes family and kinship. Families come together to enjoy moon-gazing, eat mooncakes, and spend quality time.
6. The Legend of Chang’e
Another reason for the festival is tied to the ancient myth of Chang’e, the Moon Goddess. According to legend, Chang’e flew to the moon after consuming an elixir of immortality, and has lived there ever since. This story adds a mystical and romantic element to the festival, making the moon a symbol of both mystery and reunion.
The celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival is not only rooted in ancient moon and nature worship but also reflects Chinese culture's deep emphasis on family reunion, gratitude, and hope. The moon, as a central symbol of the festival, represents people's longing for a harmonious and fulfilling life, as well as their appreciation for family ties. This is why the Mid-Autumn Festival continues to be widely celebrated today.