Mid-Autumn Festival facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mid-Autumn Festival |
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Festival decorations in Beijing
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| Also called | Moon Festival, Mooncake Festival |
| Observed by | Chinese people |
| Type | Cultural, religious |
| Significance | To commemorate and celebrate the end of the autumn harvest |
| Celebrations | Lantern lighting, mooncake making and sharing, courtship and matchmaking, fireworks, family gathering, dragon dances, family meal, visiting friends and relatives, gift giving |
| Observances | Consumption of mooncakes and cassia wine |
| Date | 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunar calendar |
| 2023 date | 29 September |
| 2024 date | 17 September |
| 2025 date | 6 October |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Related to | Chuseok (Korea), Tsukimi (Japan), Tết Trung Thu (Vietnam), Uposatha of Ashvini or Krittika (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand) |
| Mid-Autumn Festival | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Mid-Autumn Festival" in traditional (top) and simplified (bottom) Chinese characters
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| Traditional Chinese | 中秋節 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 中秋节 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | "Mid-Autumn Festival" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Calendar date name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese | 八月十五/八月半 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | "Fifteenth/Half of the Eighth Month" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Regional name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 八月節 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literal meaning | "Eighth Month Festival" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Mid-Autumn Festival, also called the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, is a special harvest festival. People celebrate it in Chinese culture and other parts of Asia. It happens on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunar calendar. This is when the full moon is at its brightest and biggest. This usually falls between mid-September and early October in the Gregorian calendar.
This festival is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture. It is almost as popular as Chinese New Year. The festival's history goes back more than 3,000 years. Other countries in East and Southeast Asia celebrate similar festivals.
During the festival, people carry and display lanterns of all sizes and shapes. These lanterns symbolize good luck and a bright future. A special pastry called mooncakes is also eaten. Mooncakes are usually round and filled with sweet bean paste, egg yolk, or lotus seed paste. The Mid-Autumn Festival is based on the legend of Chang'e, the Moon goddess.
Contents
What is the Mid-Autumn Festival?
The festival gets its name because it happens in the middle of autumn. It is on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month. This is around the September equinox. People in different places call it by different names. Some common names are "Mid-Autumn Festival" or "Mid-Autumn." Other names include "Fifteenth of the Eighth Month" or "Half of the Eighth Month."
- In Korea, it is called Chuseok. This means "autumn eve."
- In Japan, it is called Tsukimi. This means "moon viewing."
- In Vietnam, it is called Tết Trung Thu. It is also known as The Children's Festival. Many songs are sung by children during this time.
- Sometimes, people in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia call it the Lantern Festival. But this is different from the Lantern Festival in China. That one happens in the first month of the Chinese calendar.
What Does the Festival Mean?
The Mid-Autumn Festival celebrates three main ideas:
- Gathering: Families and friends come together. It is also a time to gather crops from the harvest. The moon is brightest and roundest on this day. This roundness means family reunion. This is why the festival is so important.
- Giving Thanks: People give thanks for a good harvest. They also thank for happy family unions.
- Praying: People pray for good things. They might wish for babies, a partner, beauty, or a good future.
Many traditions and stories about the festival are based on these ideas. Over time, traditions have changed. This is because of new technology, science, and culture.
How Did the Festival Start?
Chinese people have celebrated the autumn full moon for a very long time. This goes back to the Shang dynasty (about 1600–1046 BCE). The name "mid-autumn" first appeared in a book called Rites of Zhou. This book was written during the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BCE).
The festival became popular during the early Tang dynasty (618–907 CE). One story says that Emperor Xuanzong of Tang started formal celebrations. He did this after visiting the Moon-Palace in a dream.
By the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the Mid-Autumn Festival was one of China's main folk festivals. Even Empress Dowager Cixi (in the late 1800s) loved celebrating it. She would have big ceremonies for several days.
Moon Worship and Legends
Worshipping the Moon is a big part of the festival. Some people believe the Sun and Moon are a couple. The stars are their children. When the Moon is full, it is like it is pregnant. After giving birth, it becomes a crescent. Because of these beliefs, women often worship the Moon and offer gifts.
In China, the Mid-Autumn Festival means family reunion. Families gather to admire the full moon in the evening. There is a famous myth about Chang'e flying to the Moon. She is known as the Moon Goddess of Immortality.
One version of the story goes like this: Long ago, there was a great archer named Hou Yi. His wife was Chang'e. One year, ten suns appeared in the sky. This caused a huge disaster. Yi shot down nine of the suns, leaving only one. An immortal admired Yi and gave him an elixir (a magic drink) of immortality. Yi did not want to become immortal without Chang'e. So, he let her keep the elixir.
However, one of Yi's students, Peng Meng, found out. On the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, Yi went hunting. Peng Meng broke into Yi's house. He forced Chang'e to give him the elixir. Chang'e refused. Instead, she drank it herself and flew into the sky. She loved her husband and wanted to stay close. So, she chose the Moon as her home.
When Yi came back, he was very sad. He put out fruits and cakes that Chang'e liked in the yard. He offered them as sacrifices to his wife. People soon heard the story. They felt sorry for Chang'e and joined Yi in these sacrifices. Since then, people have prayed to Chang'e, the goddess of the Moon, for luck and safety.
Another common version of the myth says: After Houyi shot down the nine suns, people made him king. But he became a mean and cruel ruler. To live forever, he asked for an elixir from Xiwangmu. His wife, Chang'e, stole it on the 15th of August. She did not want the cruel king to live long and harm more people. She drank the magic potion to stop him. Houyi was very angry when he found out. He shot at his wife as she flew to the moon, but he missed. Chang'e fled to the moon and became its spirit. Houyi soon died from his great anger. After that, people offer sacrifices to Chang'e every 15th day of the 8th month to remember her brave act.
How People Celebrate
The festival was a time to celebrate a good harvest of rice and wheat. People offered food to the moon. Today, it is still a time for friends and family to gather outdoors. They eat mooncakes and watch the Moon. The Moon is a symbol of peace and togetherness.
Some common customs include:
- Burning incense to honor gods and goddesses, like Chang'e.
- Performing dragon and lion dances. These are popular in southern China.
Lanterns
A big part of the holiday is carrying bright lanterns. People also light lanterns on towers or float sky lanterns. Another fun tradition is writing riddles on lanterns. Other people try to guess the answers. These are called "lantern riddles."
It is not clear why lanterns became part of the festival. But they were not used with Moon worship before the Tang dynasty. Long ago, lanterns symbolized new life and were toys or decorations. Today, the lantern represents the festival itself. In the past, lanterns looked like nature, myths, or local culture. Now, there are many different kinds of lanterns.
As China changed from a farming society to one with more trade, traditions from other festivals joined the Mid-Autumn Festival. For example, putting lanterns on rivers to guide spirits. This was done during the Ghost Festival, which is a month before.
Mooncakes
Making and sharing mooncakes is a main tradition of this festival. In Chinese culture, a round shape means completeness and reunion. So, sharing and eating round mooncakes shows that families are complete and united. In some parts of China, families make mooncakes on the night of the festival. The oldest person in the house cuts the mooncakes and gives a piece to everyone. This also means family reunion.
Today, most people buy mooncakes instead of making them at home. They give them as gifts to family members. But the meaning of family unity remains.
Most mooncakes are small. But imperial chefs once made some as big as 8 meters across! These had designs of Chang'e, cassia trees, or the Moon-Palace. One tradition is to stack 13 mooncakes to look like a pagoda. The number 13 stands for the 13 months in a full Chinese lunar year. Making very large mooncakes is still a tradition in modern China.
A Chinese story says that a businessman from Turpan gave cakes to Emperor Taizong of Tang. This was after his victory against the Xiongnu. The emperor liked the round cakes and pointed to the moon, saying, "I'd like to invite the toad to enjoy the hú cake." After he shared the cakes, eating these hú cakes became popular. Later, they were called mooncakes.
Another popular story is about the Han Chinese fighting against the Mongols. This happened at the end of the Yuan dynasty (1280–1368 CE). The Han Chinese used mooncakes to hide secret messages. The messages told them to rebel on Mid-Autumn Day. The Mongols had strict rules. Only 1 out of every 10 households could own a knife. So, this secret message was important to gather weapons.
Other Foods and Displays
Special dishes served during the festival include nine-jointed lotus roots. These symbolize peace. Watermelons are cut into lotus petal shapes. These symbolize reunion. People put teacups on stone tables in the garden. They pour tea and chat. They wait for the full moon's reflection to appear in their cups.
Cassia wine is the traditional "reunion wine." This is because the cassia plant blooms at this time. People also eat cassia cakes and candy. In some places, people drink osmanthus wine and eat osmanthus mooncakes.
Food offerings for gods are placed on an altar in the courtyard. These include apples, pears, peaches, grapes, pomegranates, melons, oranges, and pomelos. A clay statue of the Jade Rabbit is often bought. In Chinese stories, the Jade Rabbit lives on the Moon with Chang'e. People offer soy beans and cockscomb flowers to the Jade Rabbit.
Today, in southern China, people also eat seasonal fruits. These fruits might be different in various areas. But they all carry the same meaning of blessing.
Finding Love and Marriage
The Mid-Autumn moon has always been a special time to celebrate marriages. Girls would pray to the Moon deity Chang'e. They asked her to help their romantic wishes come true.
In some parts of China, dances are held for young men and women to find partners. For example, young women might throw their handkerchiefs into a crowd. The young man who catches and returns the handkerchief has a chance to start a romance.
Festival Activities and Games
In the 1920s and 1930s, a researcher named Chao Wei-pang studied traditional games. These games were played by men, women, and children around Mid-Autumn Day in Guangdong Province. These games often involved spirits or fortune-telling.
- One game, "Ascent to Heaven," involved a young lady. She was chosen from a group of women to "ascend" to the sky. While surrounded by incense smoke, she would describe beautiful sights and sounds.
- Another game, "Descent into the Garden," was played by younger girls. Each girl would describe visiting heavenly gardens. A flower tree represented her. The number and color of the flowers showed how many children she would have.
- Men played a game called "Descent of the Eight Immortals." One of the Eight Immortals would take over a player. That player would then act like a scholar or warrior.
- Children played "Encircling the Toad." The group would form a circle around a child chosen to be a "Toad King." They would sing a song that turned the child into a toad. The child would jump like a toad until water was sprinkled on their head. Then they would stop.
How Different Places Celebrate
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Xiamen, China
In the city of Xiamen, people play a special game called Bo Bing. This is a dice game. Families and friends gather to play it. Players take turns rolling 6 dice in a ceramic bowl. What they win depends on the dice roll. The number 4 is very important for winning big prizes.
Hong Kong and Macau
In Hong Kong and Macau, the day after the Mid-Autumn Festival is a public holiday. This is because many celebrations happen at night. People light lanterns and do other fun activities. But mooncakes are the most important part. People usually buy mooncakes to give as gifts to relatives. They start exchanging these gifts well before the festival. Mooncakes are sold in fancy boxes for this reason. These boxes can be quite expensive.
However, people are now more concerned about environmental protection. So, many mooncake makers in Hong Kong use less packaging. They also create new types of mooncakes. These include ice-cream mooncakes and snow skin mooncakes.
Hong Kong has other traditions too. Neighborhoods set up amazing lantern displays. They have traditional stage shows, game stalls, and palm readings. The biggest celebrations are in Victoria Park (Hong Kong). One famous event is the Fire Dragon Dance. It started in the 1800s and is now a part of China's cultural heritage. The 200-foot-long fire dragon needs over 300 people to move it. The leader of the dance prays for peace and good luck. After the ceremony, the fire dragon is thrown into the sea with lanterns and paper cards. This means the dragon returns to the sea and takes away bad luck.
Taiwan
In Taiwan, and its islands like Penghu and Kinmen, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a public holiday. Outdoor barbecues are very popular for friends and family. Children also make and wear hats from pomelo rinds. People believe that Chang'e, the lady in the moon, will notice children wearing her favorite fruit. She will then give them good fortune.
Similar Festivals in Other Countries
Many other festivals around Asia are similar. They also happen around the full moon. These festivals usually occur on the same day or close to the Mid-Autumn Festival.
East Asia
Japan
Tsukimi is the Japanese moon viewing festival. It is also held at this time. People have picnics and drink sake under the full moon. They celebrate the harvest.
Korea
Chuseok is a major harvest festival and a three-day holiday in North and South Korea. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunar calendar. This is when the full moon appears. It has been celebrated since the Silla period. Koreans visit their hometowns and honor their ancestors. They share a feast of traditional Korean food. This includes songpyeon (rice cakes) and rice wines.
Southeast Asia
Many festivals celebrating the full moon are held in Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. Like the Mid-Autumn Festival, these festivals have Buddhist roots. They also focus on the full moon. However, they happen several times a year, not just once.
Cambodia
In Cambodia, it is called "The Water and Moon Festival" or Bon Om Touk. It is celebrated in November for three days. The festival starts with boat races. The boats are brightly painted with colorful designs. Hundreds of Cambodian men race the boats on the Tonle Sap River. At night, the streets are full of people buying food and going to concerts. In the evening, people pray to the moon. They set out offerings like fruits and a dish called Ak Ambok. They light incense and make wishes to the Moon. Cambodians believe in the legend of The Rabbit and the Moon. They think a rabbit on the Moon watches over them. At midnight, everyone goes to the temple to pray and make wishes. They also eat Ak Ambok together. Cambodians make homemade lanterns, often shaped like lotus flowers. They light them with incense and candles. Then they send them into the river for their wishes to be heard.
Laos
In Laos, many festivals are held on the full moon day. The most famous is the That Luang Festival. It is linked to a Buddhist story. It is held at the Pha That Luang temple in Vientiane. The festival often lasts for three to seven days. There is a procession, and many people visit the temple.
Myanmar
In Myanmar, many festivals are held on the full moon day. The Thadingyut Festival is the most popular. It happens in the month of Thadingyut. It is around the same time as the Mid-Autumn Festival. It is one of the biggest festivals in Myanmar after the New Year festival. It is a Buddhist festival. Many people go to the temple to show respect to monks and offer food. It is also a time for giving thanks and honoring Buddhist monks, teachers, parents, and elders.
Singapore
The Mid-Autumn Festival is observed informally in Singapore. It is not a government holiday.
Vietnam
In Vietnam, children join parades in the dark under the full moon. They carry lanterns of different shapes and colors. Traditionally, lanterns showed the wish for the Sun's light and warmth to return after winter. Children also wear masks. Long ago, masks were made of papier-mâché. Now, plastic masks are more common. Handcrafted shadow lanterns were important in Mid-Autumn displays since the 12th century. They often showed historical figures. But making handmade lanterns has decreased. This is because of many plastic lanterns available. These often show characters from children's shows.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is called Tết Trung Thu in Vietnamese. It is also known as the "Children's Festival." Vietnamese people traditionally believed that children were the most innocent. They thought children had the closest connection to the pure beauty of the world. Celebrating the spirit of children was a way to connect to that world.
One important event before and during the festival is lion dances. Both children's groups and professional groups perform these dances. Lion dance groups perform on the streets. They go to houses and ask permission to perform. If the host agrees, the "lion" dances. This is a blessing of luck and good fortune for the home. In return, the host gives lucky money. Cakes and fruits are eaten. They are also arranged in beautiful food displays. For example, rice flour and rice paste are shaped into animals. Pomelo sections can be made into unicorns, rabbits, or dogs. Villagers near Hanoi make tò he. These are figurines made from rice paste and natural food dyes.
In the early 1900s in Vietnam, young men and women used the festival to meet future partners. Groups would gather in a courtyard. They would exchange song verses while looking at the Moon. Those who sang poorly were sidelined. The last young man and woman remaining would win prizes. They would also have a chance to find a partner.
North America
Canada and the United States
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Until about 2014, the Mid-Autumn Festival was not well-known outside of Asian stores. But it has become more popular since then. This is especially true in areas with many Chinese people living abroad. These areas include New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Unlike in China, celebrations in the United States usually happen during the day. They generally finish by early evening.
When is the Festival?
The Mid-Autumn Festival is on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese calendar. This is the night of a full moon. It falls near the Autumnal Equinox. This means it happens between September 8 and October 7 in the Gregorian calendar.
Here are the dates for the next few years:
- 2023: September 29 (Friday)
- 2024: September 17 (Tuesday)
- 2025: October 6 (Monday)
- 2026: September 25 (Friday)
Images for kids
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"Mid-Autumn Festival" in traditional (top) and simplified (bottom) Chinese characters
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Chang'e, the Moon Goddess of Immortality
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Houyi helplessly looking at his wife Chang'e flying off to the Moon after she drank the elixir.
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Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns in Chinatown, Singapore
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Mid-Autumn Festival lanterns at a shop in Hong Kong
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Typical lotus bean-filled mooncakes eaten during the festival
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Animal-shaped mooncakes in Vietnam
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Cassia wine is the traditional choice for "reunion wine" drunk during Mid-Autumn Festival
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Vietnamese rice figurines, known as tò he
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Mid-Autumn Festival at the Botanical Garden, Montreal
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Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival parade, Belfast City Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
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Mid-Autumn Festival at Chinatown, Singapore
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Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations in Victoria Park, Hong Kong
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Lantern in Senado Square, Macau
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Mid-Autumn Festival Decorations at Gardens by the Bay, Singapore.
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Vietnamese children celebrating the Tết Trung Thu with traditional 5-pointed star-shaped lantern
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Autumn Moon Festival in San Francisco Chinatown, 2007
See also
In Spanish: Fiesta del Medio Otoño para niños
- Agriculture in China
- Agriculture in Vietnam
- Chinese holidays
- Dragon Boat Festival
- Joss paper
- List of harvest festivals
- Vietnamese holidays
