The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the traditional festivals in China, and it is also a traditional cultural festival popular among many ethnic groups across the country. The origin of the Mid-Autumn Festival can be traced back to the ancient Chinese culture of moon god sacrifice.
Originally, the worship of the moon dates back to ancient times, but in the Han Dynasty, the worship of the moon was already associated with important matters such as agricultural production and harvests. In the early years of the Tang Dynasty, the Mid-Autumn Festival had taken shape, and by the Song Dynasty, the Mid-Autumn Festival had become an important festival, popularized throughout the country, and eventually became known as the four traditional festivals in China along with the Spring Festival, Qingming Festival and Dragon Boat Festival.
According to the "Rites of Zhou", in the Zhou Dynasty, there were activities of "welcoming the cold on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival" and "Autumn Equinox Sunset Moon (Worshiping the Moon)"; In the middle of August of the lunar calendar, when the autumn grain harvest is also held, a series of ceremonies and celebrations called "autumn papers" are held to thank the gods for their protection. In the mid-autumn season, the temperature is cool, the sky is high and refreshing, and the moon is in the middle of the day, which is the best season to see the moon. Therefore, the composition of the moon festival was gradually replaced by the moon viewing, and the color of the sacrifice gradually faded, but the festival continued and was given a new meaning.
During the Northern Song Dynasty, August 15 was officially designated as the Mid-Autumn Festival. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the Mid-Autumn Festival began to be as famous as New Year's Day, becoming the second largest traditional festival in the mainland after the Spring Festival. In the thousands of years of inheritance, it has changed several times, and finally pointed to the spirit of "family reunion" to become the main cultural connotation of today's Mid-Autumn Festival.
On May 20, 2006, the Mid-Autumn Festival was included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list by the State Council. On January 1, 2008, the Mid-Autumn Festival was listed as a national holiday by the State Council.
The Mid-Autumn Festival has many customs, the most traditional of which is the moon festival and moon viewing. Moon sacrifice refers to the moon to make sacrifices to pray for a good harvest and happiness. Moon viewing, on the other hand, is to appreciate the beauty of the moon and express reverence for the moon god. In addition, eating mooncakes, appreciating osmanthus flowers, playing with lanterns, etc. are also traditional customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, people also gather to share food and joy. This custom of reunion not only strengthens family cohesion, but also promotes social harmony. In addition, osmanthus viewing is also an important activity during the Mid-Autumn Festival, people will choose to enjoy the moon, taste tea, chat under the osmanthus tree, and feel the aroma and beauty of osmanthus flowers.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is an important festival in traditional Chinese culture, which carries people's good wishes for reunion, harmony and happiness. Today, the Mid-Autumn Festival is not only a traditional festival, but also an indispensable part of traditional Chinese culture.