2014 Mid-Autumn Festival falls on September
8th. The holiday lasts from September 6th to 8th. Due to the pleasant
autumn weather this is a peak time for travel. Welcome to China and explore the
traditional folk customs of this interesting festival!
Falling on the 15th day of the 8th month
according to the Chinese lunar
calendar, the Mid-Autumn Festival is the second grandest festival after the Spring
Festival in China. It takes its name from the fact that it is always
celebrated in the middle of the autumn season. The day is also known as the
Moon Festival, as at that time of the year the moon is at its roundest and
brightest.
People in
mainland China enjoy one day off on the festival which is usually connected
with the weekend. In Hong Kong and Macau, people also enjoy one day off.
However, it is not scheduled on the festival day, but the following day and it
is usually not connected with the weekend. In Taiwan, the one day holiday falls
on the festival day.
Moon cake
The Moon Cake is
the special food of Mid-Autumn Festival. On that day, people sacrifice moon
cakes to the moon as an offering and eat them for celebration. Moon cakes come
in various flavors according to the region. The moon cakes are round,
symbolizing the reunion of a family, so it is easy to understand how the eating
of moon cakes under the round moon can evoke longing for distant relatives and
friends. Nowadays, people present moon cakes to relatives and friends to
demonstrate that they wish them a long and happy life.
Top Places to Celebrate
Mid-Autumn Festival in China
Some people prefer
stay at home to celebrate the festival, while others would like to go outside
to have a closer contact with the bright full moon. Over time, some outdoor
places become more popular, including ancient man-made sites, natural scenic
areas, countryside and skyscrapers, etc.
Mid-Autumn
Festival in other Asian Countries
Due to frequent communications with China and migrations of
Chinese people, Mid-Autumn Festival has become popular in other parts of the
world, especially neighboring Asian countries where it is celebrated in the
same way as in China, while others add their own customs.
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