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Mid-Autumn Festival
August the 15th according to the lunar calendar is the traditional Mid-autumn Festival in China. Because this festival is in the middle of autumn, people call it as Mid-autumn Festival. On the night of Mid-autumn Festival, looking at the bright full-moon, people stay far away from home miss their families very much. Mid-autumn Festival is a festival on which families should stay together.
It is said that there had been an ugly girl in Qi (an ancient nation in China) named Wuyan. She had worshipped the moon when she was very young. She was selected into the palace because of her outstanding morality when she grew up, but the emperor did not show special favor to her. On a night of August the 15th, the emperor of Qi met her in the moon light. He found Wuyan was such a beautiful girl and he fell in love with her immediately. After that, Wuyan became the queen of Qi. Since that, the tradition of worshipping the moon formed. Young ladies worship the moon for another reason. In Chinese tale, there is a beauty named Chang’e lives in the moon. Girls hope they can be as beautiful as Chang'e.
Custom of Mid-autumn Festival
Admiring the Moon
The tradition of moon appreciating has been lasting since long long ago. In the Zhou Dynasty, people had ceremonies to welcome the full moon, and they place a big table in the yard, on this table, moon cakes, watermelons, apricots, apples, grapes and some other fresh fruits are prepared. In Tang Dynasty, the tradition of moon appreciating was very popular. In Song Dynasty, this tradition became even more popular. After Ming and Qing Dynasty, more customs formed.
Eating Moon Cake
No matter in urban or rural of China, people eat moon cakes on Mid-autumn Festival. Eating moon cakes while appreciating the full moon, this is a symbol of families getting together itself.
Hoping being together with families, this is a good wish of Chinese. For this reason, moon cakes become presents nowadays, they represent people's wishes.
