As the 15th day of the eighth lunar month approaches, it’s time to light lanterns, enjoy a mooncake, and savor the sweet taste of pomelo—the Mid-Autumn Festival has arrived.
Primarily celebrated across East and Southeast Asia, this festival marks a time for families to come together, appreciate the autumn harvest, and gaze at the fullest moon of the year. In 2024, the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, falls on September 17. Here’s a glimpse into its history and how you can partake in this festive celebration.
The History of the Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival was officially recognized during China’s Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE), though its origins are believed to date back even further. Many trace its roots to the “Book of Rites,” a Confucian text from over 2,400 years ago, where emperors offered tributes to the moon in celebration of the harvest season.
Over time, the festival has evolved into a cherished occasion for family gatherings. In traditional Chinese culture, it symbolizes unity, as an old saying explains: “People and the moon reunite to form a full circle.”
The Legend of Chang’e: The Moon Goddess
Like many cultural festivals, the Mid-Autumn Festival is steeped in mythology. One of the most famous legends is the tale of Chang’e, the moon goddess. The story recounts how Hou Yi, a skilled archer, saved the Earth by shooting down nine of the ten suns scorching the planet. In return, he was gifted a heavenly elixir. When a greedy apprentice tried to steal it, Hou Yi’s wife, Chang’e, drank the elixir to protect it and ascended to the moon.
Every year, Hou Yi prepared a feast when the moon was fullest, hoping to see his beloved wife’s shadow. This tale is so embedded in Chinese culture that China’s lunar missions are named after Chang’e, with the moon rover, Yutu, named after the legendary jade rabbit said to accompany her.
Global Festivities and Customs
The Mid-Autumn Festival takes on different forms across Asia. In Vietnam, it’s celebrated as “Children’s Day,” with paper lantern fairs and lively lion dances. In southern China, people light lanterns and enjoy seasonal fruits like pomelo and starfruit. Some villages in Hong Kong still honor the tradition of fire dragon dancing.
In South Korea, the festival, known as Chuseok, spans three days and is one of the country’s most significant holidays. Families visit ancestral tombs, wear traditional clothing, and eat songpyeon, crescent-shaped rice cakes filled with sweet ingredients.
In Japan, people mark the festival by enjoying tsukimi dango, grilled sticky rice balls, while moon gazing. Communities in cities like New York and Vancouver also host their own Mid-Autumn celebrations, bringing the festival’s spirit to life across the globe.
The Iconic Mooncake
No Mid-Autumn Festival is complete without mooncakes. As essential to the festivities as turkey is to Thanksgiving, these rich pastries are shared among family and friends. The most famous variety, Cantonese-style mooncake, features a lotus seed paste, salted egg yolk, and lard, with each palm-sized cake packing around 1,000 calories.
Modern takes on mooncakes have also gained popularity in recent years. From nut and custard fillings to chocolate-coated ice cream mooncakes, bakeries and brands continue to offer fresh alternatives to the traditional recipe.
Whether you’re lighting lanterns or indulging in mooncakes, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a time to embrace family, tradition, and the beauty of the full moon.