The Mid-Autumn Festival & Its Cultural Significance
South China Morning Post, East Coast Park Precinct, North Point, Hong Kong, Photo: Sam Tsang
中秋節 or Mid-Autumn Festival is an annual festival celebrated by Chinese communities around the world and is the second most important celebration following the Chinese New Year. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. Moon worshipping has been practiced since the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 BC) however the Mid-Autumn Festival has only been celebrated as a traditional festival since the early Tang Dynasty (618-907). In the past, merchants, emperors and officials would hold big parties for their courts, while later on admiring the moon alongside poorer citizens. Nowadays, the festival has become a significant time for families to reunite and admire the full moon together.
There are multiple versions of stories behind the festival, however, the most common and famous one is about a legendary archer and his wife, Chang’e. It tells the tale of how she consumed an elixir of immortality and ascended to the moon, leaving her husband Houyi behind on Earth.
In the modern day, the festival has become a family tradition much like Thanksgiving. Extended families from around the world would reunite and celebrate with a large dinner, symbolising harmony and unity, while worshipping the moon goddess through desserts and gifts. Each dish served would symbolise or bring each family member a blessing significant to the food. For example, families would eat pomelo (柚子）which sounds like the chinese word （佑）which means “bless”, in hopes that the Moon Goddess would bless the family with good luck and happiness, while tang yuan （湯圓）with its rounded shape symbolises the reunion and togetherness of the family.
The festival is celebrated across three days, the day before the Mid-Autumn Festival, the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the day following the Mid-Autumn Festival. Throughout the 3 days, several traditions will take place.
One of the many traditions celebrated during this holiday is the famous Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance. Legend says that in the 1800s, villagers from the Tai Hang Village ran around with a straw dragon covered in incense to ward off evil spirits and plague. The structure requires at least 300 people to operate, it is made from rope, straw, rattan and lit incense candles, assembled to mimic a live dragon. Here in Hong Kong, the dance takes place annually in Causeway Bay.
At night, lanterns are carried by people of all ages, in various shapes like animals, plants or traditional Chinese symbols. The colourful lanterns illuminate the sky creating a joyous and warming atmosphere. Additionally, families gather outside in parks or gardens to admire the bright full moon. The moon is believed to be at its brightest and fullest during this holiday, symbolising prosperity and happiness.
An iconic symbol of the Mid-Autumn Festival would be the mooncakes. Mooncakes are round traditional Chinese pastries often filled with salted egg yolk, lotus paste or red bean. They are traditionally made by hand and are topped with fine intricate designs and patterns carved upon the pastry. Mooncakes are not only enjoyed as treats but are often exchanged as gifts between friends and family members. The circular shape of these pastries symbolises completeness and togetherness, while the traditional salted egg yolk filling resembles the moon itself, often being referred to as the ‘moon egg’.
While these are the most significant traditions held during the Mid-Autumn Festival, communities will often get together and perform dances, storytelling and traditional music to commemorate the holiday and entertain and educate the audience on the Chinese heritage. Tea appreciation is also a widely celebrated tradition where people drink various teas associated with the autumn harvest.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is a cherished celebration practising age-old traditions. It is a time for joy, gratitude, and reunion that bring cultural significance to those of Chinese descent. Whether it’s through the exchange of mooncakes, or basking in the moon’s light, the Mid-Autumn Festival will continue to captivate the hearts and minds for future generations to come.
Bibliography:
(11th september 2023) Time Out Hong Kong & Jenny Leung, Mid-Autumn Festival dates, traditions & legend : Everything you need to know
(24th August 2023) Fercility Jiang, What is the Origin of Mid-Autumn Festival? A Brief History
China Daily, This history of Mid-Autumn Festival : what you should know
(2011-09-06) Nanjing, Legend of Chang-er, The Moon Goddess
(27th September 2023) Kylie Knott, 5 of the best place in Hong Kong to ee the full moon this Mid-Autumn Festival, from a remote island to a harbour cruise
