Moon Festival Date: October 23
Moon Festival is a mid-Autumn festival in many parts of the East.
The moon festival or the mid-Autumn festival is celebrated by China and other Eastern countries (however they celebrate it differently) typically during the month of September. This is a popular harvest festival, which commemorates the end of summer harvest season by the farmers. This date is one in which the moon is the fullest and the roundest and the festival is just like the equinoxes in the Solar Calendar. It is held on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month.
History of the Moon Festival
There are many stories related to the celebration of the moon festival.
The Chinese Version
During some time on Earth, there used to be ten suns on the sky and severe drought resulted in the earth. During this time from the heavens came a man called Hou Yi carrying a red bow and white arrows and he immediately shot the extra suns with his arrows, which made the earth much cooler. Hou Yi fell in love with a girl named Chang’er, and married her.
In order to enjoy a happy married life, he went to the Kunlun Mountains to the Western Queen Mother. She provided him with an elixir and told him that if both of them share it they would lead a happy married life, however if only one of them takes it then the person will be immortal and ascend into heaven. Hou Yi told his wife about it, but a wicked monster Feng Heng killed him and went to his home to force Chang’er to give him the elixir, in order to avoid giving the elixir to the demon she drank it all and was raised into the heavens. She preferred to live in the moon since it is close to the earth and so that she could always see her dead husband from there.
The Mongolian Verson
The Chinese rebels tried to overthrow the Mongols but they were unsuccessful since during that time assembling and moving in groups was prohibited. Due to this reason, no plans could be made. The Mongols enjoyed eating moon cakes and a plan was made to distribute moon cakes to the Chinese during the Mid-Autumn festival. The moon cakes contained paper on which it was written ‘Kill the Mongols on the fifteenth day of the eight month.’ Due to this, they were successful to overthrow the Mongols and the establishment of the Ming dynasty under Zhu took place.
The Vietnamese Version
In Vietnam, the festival is celebrated due to a tale of Cuội. His wife once accidentally urinated in a sacred Banyan tree due to which he was raised into the moon. The festival is celebrated with lanterns in order to show Cuội the way back to the earth.
Moon Festival Traditions and Activities
It is celebrated in the Fifteenth day of the Eight month in the Chinese calendar but generally falls into mid September. In Vietnam, it is celebrated in mid August. In 2009, it is falling on sixth of August.
Moon cakes are distributed and eaten in the open, pomelo rinds are kept on one’s head. In Vietnam lanterns are carried and lit in different places, trees are planted, dandelion leaves are collected and distributed evenly among family members, and the most popular is the fire dragon dances.
Other interesting posts:
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