Mid-Autumn Festival: A Cozy Moment of Full Moon Reunion
In a few days, China will celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, do you know about it? This is a very important holiday in China, known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, also referred to as the Moon Festival or the Reunion Festival, falling on September 17th this year. It is one of the most significant traditional festivals in China and the East Asian cultural sphere, carrying people's longing for home and desire for togetherness. This article will introduce to you some interesting legends and customs surrounding the Mid-Autumn Festival!
Chang'e Flying to the Moon: An Eternal Legend
In a time long ago, there were ten suns taking turns to illuminate the sky, but one day, they all appeared at once, scorching the earth bitterly, causing all living beings to struggle in the scorching heat, and people's lives were plunged into hardship. At this critical moment, a hero named Hou Yi stepped forward, he drew his bow and shot down nine of the suns in one breath, saving the people from the water and fire calamity. Touched by his heroic deed, the Queen Mother of the West granted Hou Yi an invaluable elixir of immortality as a reward. However, Hou Yi's heart was filled with love for his wife, Chang'e, and he did not wish to leave the mortal world alone to enjoy immortality, so he entrusted the elixir to Chang'e for safekeeping.
Unfortunately, good times do not last long, a cunning man named Feng Meng discovered this secret, and when Hou Yi was not at home, he attempted to snatch the elixir. To prevent the elixir from falling into the wrong hands, Chang'e made a brave but helpless decision—she swallowed the elixir herself. A miracle took place, Chang'e's body became lighter and lighter, rising slowly into the night sky, eventually settling in the distant and cold Moon Palace. There, only a lovely jade rabbit accompanied her, together they quietly gazed down at the human world. Despite the solitude, their hearts were filled with longing for home. Since then, every Mid-Autumn on the night of the full moon, people would look up at the bright moon, share mooncakes, and recount Chang'e's story. Silently in their hearts, they express sympathy and longing for Chang'e, as if by doing so, they could convey the warmth of humanity to her, offering a trace of solace for her millennia-old loneliness.
Mid-Autumn Customs: Full Moon Brings Roundness to Relationships
On the night of Moon Appreciation during the Mid-Autumn Festival, whether in bustling urban areas or tranquil countryside, people instinctively look up at the bright moon in the sky. Families gather together, arranging tea and fruits in the courtyard, balcony, or park, sharing the tranquility and harmony of this moment. Admiring the moon is not merely appreciating the beauty of nature, but also an opportunity for emotional exchange among family members, symbolizing that regardless of distance, hearts can be closely connected by this full moon.
Sweetness of Mooncakes月饼(yuè bǐng)
月饼 (yuè bǐng), noun, mooncake
Examples:
- During the Mid-Autumn Festival, families gather to enjoy mooncakes.
中秋节期间，家人聚在一起品尝月饼。
zhōng qiū jié qī jiān, jiā rén jù zài yī qǐ pǐn cháng yuè bǐng。 - The round shape of mooncakes symbolizes reunion and completeness.
月饼的圆形象征着团圆和完整。
yuè bǐng de yuán xíng xiàng zhēngzhe tuányuán hé wánzhěng。
Mooncakes, as the iconic delicacy of the Mid-Autumn Festival, are prepared by nearly every household. Their round shape symbolizes reunion and completeness, with a variety of fillings ranging from traditional red bean paste and lotus seed paste to innovative flavors like chocolate, green tea, and even snowskin mooncakes, each representing different regional characteristics and culinary cultures. Sharing mooncakes means sharing the taste of home, conveying deep affection and thoughtful sentiments for family and friends.
Lighting Candles, Releasing Sky Lanterns
On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, in some regions, colorful lanterns are lit or sky lanterns are released. Children frolic in the streets with lanterns of various shapes, while adults send up sky lanterns filled with wishes, sending their heartfelt blessings to the skies.
These customs are not just visual enjoyments but also provide solace for the soul. Behind each flickering light, lies a profound yearning for distant loved ones and sincere wishes for health, happiness, and peace. In the soft glow of the lantern light, the invisible distance between people is bridged, whether it is family members under the same roof or friends separated by mountains and rivers, all can feel the warmth and connection that transcends time and space.
Offerings and Blessings to the Moon月亮(yuè liang)
月亮 (yuè liang), noun, moon
Examples:
- The moon shines in the night sky.
月亮在夜空中闪耀。
yuè liang zài yè kōng zhōng shǎn yào。 - I love to watch the moon.
我喜欢看月亮。
wǒ xǐ huān kàn yuè liang。
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, as night falls and the bright moon hangs high in the sky, households carefully set up altars outdoors, typically in courtyards or open spaces with a wide view. On the altar, seasonal fresh fruits symbolizing nature's gifts and abundance are placed, alongside the indispensable highlight of the day—mooncakes, symbolizing reunion and sweet visions for life.
Moreover, there may be fragrant osmanthus wine and gently swirling incense, each item imbued with special meanings, collectively forming a reverent offering to the Moon Deity. Bathed in the moonlight, people carry out a ceremony of worshiping the moon with a heart of awe, as a way to express reverence towards the vast universe and the mysterious forces of nature. Through such rituals, ancient people sought the protection of the Moon Deity, prayed for the well-being of their families, and to be far from disasters, while also hoping for a bountiful harvest and prosperity in the coming year, symbolizing a life of abundance and societal stability.
The Mid-Autumn Festival always reminds us that no matter how far apart, the warmth of home and longing can always transcend obstacles and find a resting place. So let us embrace the Mid-Autumn Festival, whether we can reunite with our loved ones or not, carrying with us the yearning for togetherness, and sharing the tranquility and beauty of this moment. Perhaps a phone call of greetings, a letter filled with heartfelt friendship, or simply lifting our heads quietly to admire the shimmering bright moon together, can bring hearts closer step by step.