All you need to know about 中秋节 – Mid-Autumn Festival
Mid-Autumn Festival
What is Mid-Autumn Festival?
Imagine a festival that brings together the magic of a full moon and the joy of celebrating the harvest – that’s the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as 中秋节 (Zhōngqiū jié) in Chinese. This festival, sometimes referred to as the Moon Festival, has been a beloved tradition for over 3000 years, making it one of the oldest and most significant celebrations in Chinese culture.
Rooted in ancient customs and filled with symbolism, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for families to reunite, give thanks for the harvest, and pray for good fortune. The full moon, representing unity and completeness, is the star of the show, as people across Asia and beyond gather to admire its beauty and partake in the festivities.
Mid-Autumn Festival
When is Mid-Autumn Festival?
The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month in the Chinese calendar, which usually lands around the autumn harvest season and the time of the full moon. Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which follows the solar year, the Chinese lunar calendar is based on the moon’s cycles.
As a result, the date of the Mid-Autumn Festival varies each year in the western calendar. This celestial timing adds to the festival’s mystical atmosphere, as people believe that the full moon on this night is the roundest and most beautiful of the entire year.
Mid-Autumn Festival
How long is Mid-Autumn Festival?
In China, the Mid-Autumn Festival is not just a one-day affair. The festivities can stretch up to 8 days, especially when it coincides with China’s National Day on October 1st, creating an extended holiday period.
This extended celebration allows people to fully immerse themselves in the festive spirit, enjoying family gatherings, moon gazing, and various cultural activities without the rush of everyday life.
In contrast, in places like Singapore and Malaysia, the Mid-Autumn Festival doesn’t come with an official holiday, so people have to juggle the festivities with their daily routine. Despite this, the vibrant atmosphere can still be felt, especially in the lively night markets and community events that spring up during this time.
Meanwhile, in Taiwan, the Mid-Autumn Festival is marked by a 3-day public holiday, with the main day falling on Friday, September 29th, 2023. This long weekend provides an opportunity for families to travel, host BBQs, and participate in various local traditions.
In Taiwan, the celebration is also known for its grand lantern displays, where communities create elaborate lanterns in the shapes of animals, flowers, and mythological figures. These lanterns are often paraded through the streets or displayed in public parks, creating a mesmerizing spectacle that draws both locals and tourists alike.
Mid-Autumn Festival
How to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival?
The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated differently across various regions, each adding its unique twist to the traditional customs. For Singaporeans, the festival is all about mooncakes and lanterns.
Mooncakes, the festival’s most iconic food, come in various flavors and designs, ranging from traditional lotus seed paste with salted egg yolks to modern interpretations like snow skin mooncakes filled with chocolate or fruit flavors.
These sweet treats are often given as gifts to family and friends, symbolizing unity and friendship. Lanterns, whether hand-made by children or elaborately crafted by artisans, light up the night, adding a warm glow to the celebrations.
In Taiwan, however, the Mid-Autumn Festival takes on a different flavor – quite literally! It’s a barbecue extravaganza, with the whole week becoming a BBQ paradise. Supermarkets stock up on all the goodies you need for a sizzling grill session, from marinated meats to fresh seafood and vegetables. The air across Taiwan is infused with the aroma of BBQ delights, as families and friends gather to cook and eat together under the moonlight.
It’s said that this BBQ tradition originated from a famous 1986 commercial for BBQ sauce, which featured the slogan:
一家烤肉萬家香
一家烤肉万家香
(Yì jiā kǎo ròu wàn jiā xiāng)
(One family is barbecuing, 10,000 families smell the fragrance)
This catchy slogan captured the imagination of the Taiwanese people, turning BBQ into an essential part of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Another traditional aspect of the Mid-Autumn Festival is the pomelo 柚子 (yòu zi), a large citrus fruit that is often eaten during this time. The pomelo’s round shape and bright color are seen as symbols of prosperity and good fortune.
In many families, grandparents make a game out of carving the pomelo skin into funny helmets for the children to wear, adding a touch of humor to the celebrations. This playful tradition brings joy and laughter, making the festival even more memorable for the younger generation.
And of course, everywhere amongst ethnic Chinese communities, it’s always customary to drink tea, eat mooncakes, and recite a poem or two. In particular, the famous poem by the Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai, “静夜思” (Jìng Yè Sī) or “Quiet Night Thoughts,” is often recited, as it beautifully captures the longing for home and family when gazing at the moon.
Regardless of how you’re celebrating it, the Mid-Autumn Festival is all about coming together with friends and family. It’s a time to appreciate the beauty of the full moon, enjoy delicious food, and create lasting memories with loved ones.
Whether you’re lighting lanterns in Singapore, barbecuing in Taiwan, or simply sharing mooncakes with family, the spirit of the Mid-Autumn Festival remains the same – a celebration of unity, gratitude, and joy.
Mid-Autumn Festival
Regardless of how you’re celebrating it, the Mid-Autumn Festival is all about coming together with friends and family.
