Mid-Autumn Festival

Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as Moon Festival, Moonlight Festival, Moon Eve, Autumn Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, Moon Worship Festival, Moon Mother Festival, Moon Festival, Reunion Festival, etc., is a traditional Chinese folk festival.

The Mid-Autumn Festival originated from the worship of celestial phenomena and evolved from worshiping the moon on the autumn eve of ancient times. Since ancient times, the Mid-Autumn Festival has included worshiping the moon, appreciating the moon, eating moon cakes, watching lanterns, appreciating osmanthus flowers, drinking osmanthus wine and other folk customs.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a synthesis of autumn seasonal customs. The Mid-Autumn Festival uses the round moon to signify people’s reunion, expressing the feeling of missing one’s hometown and relatives, and praying for a good harvest and happiness. It has become a colorful and precious cultural heritage.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, Spring Festival, Qingming Festival and Dragon Boat Festival are also known as the four traditional festivals in China.

On May 20, 2006, the State Council included it in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage lists. Since 2008, the Mid-Autumn Festival has been listed as a national statutory holiday.