The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most important Chinese festivals, celebrated by Chinese people around the world. This festival is also known as the Moon Festival for its links to the lunar calendar and Chinese moon worship. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunar calendar, generally falling in September or October in the Gregorian calendar.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated in many countries, including China, Vietnam, Korea and Japan. The festival originated from an ancient Chinese practice of worshipping the moon. During the festival, people offer sacrifices to the moon and express their reverence and admiration for the beauty of the moon. Additionally, the festival is a time to celebrate the harvest and to share the joy of the season with family and friends.
The festival is celebrated with many traditional activities including eating mooncakes, drinking tea and wine, lighting lanterns and setting off fireworks. Mooncakes are a particularly important part of the festival. These round cakes are filled with a variety of sweet fillings such as lotus seed paste, red bean paste, and roasted nuts. They are often given away as gifts and shared with friends and family.
The festival is also a time for families to reunite and enjoy the fullness of the moon. People often gather outdoors in parks or on rooftops to admire the beauty of the full moon and spend time together.
In conclusion, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a celebration of the moon and the end of the harvest season. This festival is celebrated with traditional activities such as eating mooncakes, drinking tea and wine, lighting lanterns and setting off fireworks. It is a time for families to reunite and enjoy the beauty of the full moon.