There is more to the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on Oct 1 this year, than mooncakes. Here’s a cheat sheet.
The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, when the moon is at its fullest: this year on Oct 1. Worshipping the moon stems from the Chinese legend of Chang’e, a woman who stole her husband’s immortality elixir. As she became as light as air, she flew to the moon, leaving behind the heartbroken Houyi, who would leave his wife’s favourite snacks and fruits in their garden and look at the moon. The tale spawned a number of festival customs dating back to as early as the Zhou Dynasty (1046 to 256 BC) that are still practised today.
See also: The Ultimate Guide To Mooncakes In 2020
Woman In The Moon
The moon is exceptionally round and bright on this day, and some believe Chang’e herself is the reason. The Song dynasty poet Su Shi compared the changing shapes of the moon to the ebb and flow of relationships. As families appreciate the moon together, or think of one another while looking at the moon at different corners of the world simultaneously, Mid-Autumn is a special occasion to celebrate unity and harmony.
Throwing A Fruity Feast
The evening is traditionally sweetened with fruit. In the past, there were strict customs about what fruit to eat and where to place it on the table. Having watermelon, apples, pears, dates and grapes was essential. Nowadays, it doesn’t matter—as long as everyone gets to share.