#Chinese mid autumn festival date full

The Chinese government listed the festival as intangible cultural heritage in 2006. Ancient Chinese emperors worshiped the harvest moon in. Originated in the Zhou Dynasty (1045 221 BC) Some Chinese still put out offerings for the moon goddess. Nowadays, it has become a Chinese public holiday and has been China's second-most-important festival. In the Xicheng district of Beijing is the Yuetan Park, which originally was the Temple of Moon, and every year the emperor would go there to offer a sacrifice to the moon. The Mid-autumn Festival first appeared as a festival during the Song dynasty. They chose the morning of the 15th day of the second lunar month to worship the sun and the night of the 15th day of the eighth lunar month to hold a ceremony in praise of the moon. In feudal times, Chinese emperors prayed to Heaven for a prosperous year. Celebrations have continued ever since and more customs for marking this occasion have been formed. It became an established festival during the Song Dynasty (960-1279), and has become as popular as the Spring Festival since the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). However, it was not until the early Tang Dynasty (618-907) that the day was officially celebrated as a traditional festival. The word 'Mid-Autumn' first appeared in the famous ancient book Zhou Li ( The Zhou Rituals, a book telling the rituals in the Zhou Dynasty). The Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations date back more than 2,000 years.

#Chinese mid autumn festival date full

The full moon is a symbol for family reunion, which is why that day is also known as the Festival of Reunion. It is an evening celebration where families gather together to light lanterns, eat moon cakes and appreciate the round moon. This day is also considered a harvest festival since fruit, vegetables and grain have been harvested by this time. The day is also known as the Moon Festival, as at that time of the year the moon is at its roundest and brightest. It takes its name from the fact that it is always celebrated in the middle of the autumn season. This is when the moon is at its brightest and biggest according to the Chinese calendar, and it coincides with fall and the harvest season This year, 2023, the Mid-Autumn Festival falls on September 29.

A girl and her parents watch the moon on the bulwark in the coastal city of Lianyuan, east Jiangsu province. Īs one of the most important traditional Chinese festivals, the Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, September 12 this year. The eighth lunar month is in the middle of autumn, which is why it’s called (zhngqi ji), or the Mid-Autumn Festival.