Mid-Autumn Festival customs – old and new

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‍It is the time of the year when people across China reunite with their families, appreciate the moon and eat cakes.

It is the Mid-Autumn Festival, or Moon Festival, or Mooncake Festival, which is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar. This year the festival falls on October 4.

Origins and tales

The festival is said to be derived from the custom of moon worship during the Zhou Dynasty more than 3,000 years ago.

In ancient China, the emperors would worship the moon annually. The custom was gradually accepted by the masses over time and became a festival in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1279). However, the tradition of eating mooncakes was not established until the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368).

A painting depicts the moon worship ceremony during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). /Photo via wenming.cn

In 2008, China made the Mid-Autumn Festival a three-day public holiday to better promote the traditional culture.

A well-known festival story tells the tale of Chang'e and her husband Houyi, an expert archer. When ten suns rose together threatening the Earth, Houyi saved the planet from burning when he shot down nine of them. He was rewarded with an elixir for this heroic deed.

A painting of the Chinese myth "Goddess Chang'e Flying to the Moon". /Photo via kknews.cc

A devious disciple tried to steal the elixir but was foiled by Chang'e. She drank the entire bottle of elixir and floated higher to the sky. In order to stay close to her husband still on the Earth, she chose to make the moon her home. Chang'e became known as the Goddess of the Moon and was worshiped by people for peace and luck.

Customs: old and new

The Mid-Autumn Festival is the second most important festival for family reunions after the Spring Festival.

On this day, family members will gather together for dinner, enjoy mooncakes while appreciating the moon.

Eating mooncakes and crabs are the most common and representative traditions of the day. Mooncakes are a kind of Chinese pastry. The round shape symbolizes reunion and they're usually cut into pieces that equal the number of people in the family.

Hairy crab, or Chinese mitten crab, is probably less-known and less-appreciated in many Western countries, yet it is at the top of the Chinese menu during the season due to its richness in nutrients and taste.

Hairy-crab and dipping source. /Photo via quanjing.com

In order to better enjoy the food, the Chinese people invented "xie bajian", or eight tools to eat crabs, so that they could eat this kind of hard-shelled creature elegantly without wasting a single part of it.

The eight tools include a little hammer, a stick, a spoon and a spade, which are designed to take out every tiny bit of meat hiding in the crab's shells and legs.

“Xie bajian,” or eight tools used to eat crabs, could help eaters get every tiny bit of crab meat. /Photo via ocj.com.cn

Another custom is moon appreciation. You can do it on your rooftop, your balcony, on top of a mountain, or by the sea. In the past, people believed the moon to be the brightest and roundest on the day of the festival. Though science has proven it is only true in very limited years, people still bestow their best wishes to the moon during the festival.

And of course, lanterns. People used to make lanterns themselves as a family activity and the children loved it. Nowadays, parks in the cities will put on fabulous lantern shows that come in different shapes and colors.

Photo taken on September 18, 2016 shows the surging tide of Qiantang River in Haining, east China's Zhejiang Province. /Xinhua Photo

In east China’s Zhejiang Province, watching the flood tide of the Qiantang River is an important celebratory activity. The ebb and flow of the tides coincide with the waxing and waning of the moon, creating particularly huge tides on the Mid-Autumn day. It has also become a famous tourist attraction in the region.

Tower-burning during the Mid-Autumn Festival. /Photo via sina.com.cn

In some of the towns and villages in southern China, people engage in the tradition of tower-burning. Made with bricks and tiles, the towers range from 33 centimeters to one meter in height. On top of the tower is a hole for people to put in fuel. It is traditionally believed that burning these towers can bring good luck to their life and their harvest. The brighter and stronger the fire is, the better the harvest.

Fire Dragon Dance in Hong Kong. /Photo via discoverhongkong.com

While in Hong Kong, the Fire Dragon Dance is a tradition that has been passed down for more than a hundred years. Unlike the common dragons, burning incenses are stuck all over the dragon’s body, earning its name the "Fire Dragon". The dance usually lasts for three days.

As times evolve, some new customs form. Among them, the most cheerful and glamorous one is the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala, which is usually hosted by several major TV stations such as the China Central Television (CCTV), Hunan TV and Dragon TV.

A poster for the 2017 CCTV Mid-Autumn Festival Gala. /Photo via cctv.cn

CCTV has been holding the gala since 1991. For the first time ever, the gala will be held in Daqing in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province this year.

The galas, with A-list stars and various shows, provide yet another opportunity for family members to laugh, talk, and enjoy quality time.

Since the three-day holiday started in 2008, travel has become a new trend. Both domestic and international travel have rapidly developed in recent years.

This year's holiday coincides with the seven-day National Day holiday which, starting on October 1, gives people eight total days off, creating a great opportunity for some travel.

It is estimated that more than 700 million trips will occur during the holiday, with tourist income expected to reach 590 billion yuan (88 billion US dollars), according to the National Tourism Administration.

Be it at home with your family or on the road, you can always find the best way to enjoy the moon and the cakes, and have a great time with the ones you love.

(Li Jingjing also contributed to the story.)