The Chinese Mid-autumn festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival 中秋节 (Zhōngqiū jié) is a Chinese traditional festival held every 15th day of the eighth lunar month. It takes place during the middle of autumn, hence the name. It is the second-largest Chinese traditional holiday after the Spring Festival (also known as “Chinese New Year”).
This year, the Mid-Autumn Festival falls on September 21st.
The Chinese lunar calendar divides a year into four seasons, and each season has three parts: Meng, Zhong and Ji, （孟 mèng 、 仲 zhòng 、 季 jì）. It is the reason why the Mid-Autumn Festival is called Zhongqiu (Mid-Autumn). On the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar, the full moon looks much rounder and brighter than the full moon in other months. For Chinese families, one of the highlights of this holiday is to gather to admire the moon and eat together.
If there is one delicacy we should mention, it is, of course, the Mooncake 月饼 Yuèbǐng). Its shape is round as the full moon and symbolizes reunification. There are fillings for all tastes: walnuts, almonds, red bean paste, egg yolk, lotus paste, hawthorn, melon seeds etc. If you have the chance to travel to China during the Mid-Autumn festival, make sure to try mooncakes!
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