Mid-Autumn Festival
By dennyma
@dennyma (19)
China
August 22, 2011 6:01am CST
August the 15th according to lunar calendar is the traditioanl Mid-Autumn Festival in China. It is the 2nd most important festival to Spring Festival in China, every year when it comes, people will go back home from anywhere to have dinner with family together.
In Chinese culture, the full moon is a symbol of peace and prosperity for the whole family. Its roundness symbolized wholeness and togetherness. In the middle of eighth month of the Chinese calendar, the moon is full, and eight is also a popular number in Chinese culture, symbolizing wealth and prosperity, so people believe this day is very propitious.
The Mid-Autumn Festival has a history over 2000 years. During these 2000 years, lots of Mid-Autumn traditions have been thought up by Chinese people, all the celebrations show the happiness and excitement of people.
The main celebrations during festival are appreciating the moon, eating moon cakes together and making Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns. These three celebrations have been passed from generation to generation. Chinese people may think the Mid-Autumn Festival is not coming if they don't do these three things.
Do you interest those interesting things in this coming Mid-Autumn Festival? Do you know any other important festivals in China?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
23 Aug 11
Thank you for this insight into Chinese culture 
The way you describe this festival I can see all the coloured lanterns and the people enjoying the fun.
I am in Europe and we do not celebrate any of the moon phases at all throughout the year and we do not give it as much importance. Older people in Italy believe that the moon influences many things and one that comes to mind is the sowing of seeds. They sow the seeds of the plants that will grow above ground (peas, beans, etc) when the moon is in its first phase and growing towards a full moon. They will sow the seeds to the plants that grow underground (carrots, potatoes, etc.) when the moon is declining after the full moon.
I thought, until I read this, that the celebrations for the Chinese New Year were the most important and that it was the biggest Chinese festival.
Welcome to myLot!
The way you describe this festival I can see all the coloured lanterns and the people enjoying the fun.
I am in Europe and we do not celebrate any of the moon phases at all throughout the year and we do not give it as much importance. Older people in Italy believe that the moon influences many things and one that comes to mind is the sowing of seeds. They sow the seeds of the plants that will grow above ground (peas, beans, etc) when the moon is in its first phase and growing towards a full moon. They will sow the seeds to the plants that grow underground (carrots, potatoes, etc.) when the moon is declining after the full moon.
I thought, until I read this, that the celebrations for the Chinese New Year were the most important and that it was the biggest Chinese festival.
Welcome to myLot!
@surekharathi (14146)
• India
24 Aug 11
Wow nice and thanks friend for sharing your chinese culture. I also share here as a topic of festivals of India. Here in India lots of festivals celebrated according to our culture. Wow Mid-Autumn traditions celebrated as happiness and excitement great, it means you enjoyed lot. No friend I not know about other festival in china but I know all festivals in India.
